Driving in winter is risky for two reasons—roads are slippery, and visibility is low. You can get brand-new winter tires and new windshield wipers for your car, but they can only do so much to keep you from sliding off into a ditch or another vehicle. They can give you more traction and a clearer road vision, but the rest is up to you. Dealerships have helpful tips when navigating an icy winter road in your Kia from Rio Rancho.
Keep your lights on
Road visibility will be low throughout winter. Even if it’s not snowing or foggy, snow-carrying winds can obscure your view of the road. Keeping your headlights on even in the daytime allows oncoming traffic to notice you from a safe distance. Many traffic collisions in winter happen due to drivers getting surprised by oncoming vehicles. The slippery road makes it difficult to respond quickly. You can also keep your park lights on even at daytime to make your car visible.
Keep a safe distance of at least five meters
When you hit the brakes, expect your car to decelerate before coming to a complete stop. You don’t want it stopping abruptly, as it might topple forward, slide, or throw you out of the windshield. The distance it takes for your car to completely stop after you hit the brakes is called the “braking distance.” The faster your car moves, the longer the braking distance should be. It stretches further in winter when the road is slippery. That’s why you must stay at least three car lengths apart from other vehicles even when driving at a normal speed.
Avoid rushing
Never put yourself in a situation where you need to drive in a rush. Remember that you face twice as much risk when driving your Kia in Rio Rancho in winter than at any other time of the year. If you’re in a hurry, you will tend to drive faster, and that’s how accidents usually happen. So, if you have an appointment at 9 AM, try to wake up early, so you’re on the road at least 30 minutes before your appointment. Of course, that will depend on how far your destination is and the expected traffic condition on that day.
Learn to free your rear wheels
Many traffic accidents in winter are due to locked-up wheels. This happens when the rear wheel bearing fails, and it’s dangerous because you suddenly lose control of your vehicle. If it locks up while heading towards the other lane, you can collide with oncoming traffic. The best thing to do in this situation is to release the accelerator, turn the front wheels toward a safe direction, and apply pressure to the anti-lock brakes. That should release your rear wheels from the “stupefy” spell.
Stay off the road
If you want to completely rid yourself of any driving risk in winter, don’t drive unless absolutely necessary. However, this only applies if you work from home and have enough supplies to last the cold season. Perhaps that’s what you should do before things get pretty dangerous. Stock up. Work from home. Avoid driving.
You probably know most of these tips, but let this article serve as a reminder. Winter is exciting because of Christmas and all the parties and celebrations around it, but don’t forget how it turns all roads into accident-prone areas. Check out Fiesta Kia for more helpful tips.
