It’s important to be a safe driver year-round but safety and cautious driving becomes especially important when the winter season hits. Transway meet professional drivers every day in our workshop and spare parts warehouse so we hear the horror stories of what can happen on the road.
Winter brings with it added challenges for many drivers living in colder climates where ice and snow can be a threat for many months of the year. Driving in the winter can certainly be riskier, especially if your job has you on the road frequently and for extended periods of time. Fortunately, there are a number of things that you can do to help keep yourself and others safe when navigating the roads in the winter months.
Road Ready in Winter
One of the most important things that should be done at the start of the winter season is to check that your vehicle is road ready. Mechanics can perform diagnostic tests on your vehicle to ensure everything is running up-to-standard and things are functioning the way they should be. The last thing you want is to find out that an important part of your vehicle like your breaks aren’t working as they should be while navigating icy roads.
Additionally, when getting your vehicle checked to ensure it is road ready at the start of the season, it’s also a good idea to consider your vehicle’s tyres. Roadworthy tyres will provide added traction when navigating icy and snowy road conditions and can provide you with an extra layer of safety and security when driving in the winter months. With icy roads, drifting is something that can happen quickly and easily especially if your vehicle happens across a patch of black ice. Good tyres can help to ensure that you remain in control and your vehicle remains on the road even in bad weather conditions.
Visibility in Winter
Aside from these two maintenance tasks that can help to increase your driving safety in the winter months, there are a number of day to day tips you can follow as well to help keep yourself and others safe. Firstly, always make sure that your headlights are working properly at night so that you can see what is around you and remain aware of road conditions that may crop up suddenly. Keeping them on during the darker winter days will also be a benefit.
Keeping a high-visual jacket such as a reflector vest in your vehicle is a good idea in case you find yourself dealing with a breakdown, as it helps to ensure others around you on the road are aware you are there and outside your vehicle when their headlights reflect off your jacket. It’s also highly important to make sure you are watching out for cyclists and pedestrians that may be near the roads especially during slippery conditions where drifting may occur unexpectedly. Especially as they may not be wearing the hi-vis clothing that can be lifesaving.
Finally, ensure that you are fully rested especially before beginning long haul trips, drowsiness at the wheel is one of the leading causes of accidents and this is only heightened during winter months when road conditions are typically worsened.
Overall, while driving in the winter often comes with increased risks, taking your time, being conscious of your driving habits, and following these tips are all great starting blocks for keeping yourself and others safe on the road during the winter months. The message from Transway is always, Drive Safe and if in doubt call in to us to check any vehicle issues rather than taking a chance.