5 defensive driving tips to help you avoid making an auto insurance claim this winter
Winter is a time of adjustment in the driving world. A large part of that adjustment process involves snow tires, snow tires, and more snow tires, but being on the ball about snow tires is far from the only way that drivers can adjust to the onset of winter on the roads.
Learning to drive defensively in winter conditions is an absolute necessity for anyone who plans to get behind the wheel during the season. As tempting as it is to think that one can get away with approaching driving exactly as one would during the summer, it is simply not accurate. It would be like trying to use roller skates in a pool; technically you can still do it, but there would be a lot of complications involved. Driving safely in the winter demands an extra level of care that shouldn't be taken for granted.
1) Get proactive with equipment
Equipment failures are somewhat common in the winter. In the wrong situation they can be fatal. Whether it's windshield wipers, an engine, brakes, or any other type of car equipment, it's important to check in on them before the winter begins and decide whether they need upgrading or not. Because if something malfunctions while the car is in use on a roadway, it could be even more difficult to pull over than it is in milder seasons.
2) Don't justify high speeds with AWD
A lot of people think that All-Wheel Drive (AWD) is like an antidote to the perils of the road; a tool that puts control back in the hands of the driver despite the adverse conditions. That is not only the wrong mentality to have, but also an extremely dangerous one. What AWD really does is provide forward traction. The added push will help vehicles get going on messy roads and also reach higher speeds once they're moving. It will not stop them from sliding around on icy roads or decelerate in a moment of crisis. AWD should never be seen as a justifier for reckless driving. It will not deliver.
3) Avoid wearing distracting clothing
What is distracting clothing, exactly? It could mean a few different types of things, but the broadest explanation is that it is clothing that will distract a driver from driving at an optimal level. That might constitute a winter coat, one that is so bulky that it prevents whoever is behind the wheel from executing manouevres properly. The same garment could also make the driver so hot that he or she can't focus properly on the road (sometimes it's hard in winter to gauge how hot a car will get once the hear really gets going). Whatever the case, winter increases the likelihood that drivers will find themselves in situations where they are affected by clothing-related distractions.
4) Show more restraint than usual
Winter driving is like regular driving that has been bell curved. A driver can objectively be doing the same thing in both seasons, but a manouevre becomes far more dangerous in winter simply by virtue of the weather conditions. That's why it's incumbent upon a driver to show restraint in situations where it might not be necessary eight months of the year; like slowing down even more on turns, giving slightly more of a following distance to cars up ahead, changing lanes farther away from nearby vehicles, etc. It might seem overly cautious, but it's actually exactly what is required.
5) Learn how to control skids
Every driver who lives in an area with snow and ice is likely to experience at least one instance of skidding per winter. Most of the time these are minor, inconsequential skids; but as we all know, minor issues can get amplified in the winter—especially if other drivers aren't on the ball. Drivers should find out how their cars' wheel systems work, and then how to best react to different types of skidding scenarios (oversteer, fishtailing, wheel lockup, etc.).