Winter driving: 10 tips for driving in cold conditions

Tuesday, 3 July 2018

The quarter-to-three steering position gives you great control in any conditions. Watch an expert at work here.

This article was first published in July 2018. It is republished here as NZ drivers face freezing temperatures on local roads.

While we can get our fair share of savage winter weather, New Zealand is largely a temperate country, with real huge few extremes.

It is easy to simply take it for granted that driving in winter is pretty much the same as driving in summer. Except it isn't. Not by a long shot.

Driving in wintry conditions brings a number of extra challenges and potential dangers to be aware of.

So let's take a look at ten tips for winter driving, both for those who are new to it and those who need a refresher.

Never use hot water to defrost your windscreen - it can crack it. And never use a metal scraper either - it can scratch it.

I can't see! What should I do?

It depends on whether whatever is blocking your view is on the inside or the outside of the windscreen.

**READ MORE

* Watch: drive in the snow like a pro

* How to clear your windscreen

* Is it OK to warm up your car before driving?

Make sure your windscreen wipers are in good condition - they ensure you can see, after all.

* Five ways to get your car ready for the cold weather

* Motorists urged to drive to the winter conditions**

If the inside is fogged up, then using the de-mist function of air conditioning is the easiest and most effective way. Let it do its thing and it will clear the screen in no time.

'Black' ice is actually invisible, so it's especially dangerous.

If your car doesn't have a de-mist function - or no air con - then just start the fan blowing on cold air on the windscreen and gradually increase the temperature.

If it is iced up on the outside, then some room temperature water poured over the windscreen will thaw things nicely, just make sure you scrape the melting ice off (with a plastic scraper - never metal, it can scratch) quickly and get your wipers on to prevent it re-freezing.

And NEVER use hot water, as this can cause the windscreen to crack. And that is never a good start to a wintry day.

How much space should I leave?

Chains are designed to dig into ice and snow to give you extra traction.

While the two-second rule still applies in winter weather, even when things get wet and traffic slows down. It is, after all, a time rather than distance thing, so it works equally well at any speed.

But you should at least double this when there's ice and/or snow about, because your car takes so much longer to respond to steering and braking inputs.

Four seconds is a good rule of thumb, but even further is better. After all, anything that gives you more time to react is a good thing in adverse weather.

You should always check your car's fluids regularly, but particularly in winter.

Black ice: what is it?

First things first: black ice is clear. And that is exactly why it is so dangerous.

Black ice is super smooth ice - without the white 'frosted' finish of normal ice - that has formed from a pool or puddle of water on a road surface. The 'black' part comes from the fact that it looks like a perfectly innocent section of black tarmac.

If you hit some black ice, you pretty much have no control, so get off the gas and stay off both it and the brake pedal, they will only make things worse.

Unlike any other situation you shouldn't turn into the skid because you need to know exactly where your wheels are pointing when the grip comes back.

Chains: when and where?

Generally speaking, if you are in an area where chains are needed, there will usually be signs telling you they should be fitted. But not always.

If you are not used to driving in such conditions and don't have a 'feel' for when conditions require chains, then just remember that chains need enough of a layer of ice and/or snow to provide a compacted surface for them to dig into and do their job.

Chains and tarmac are not a combination that will produce good things - because when they meet both can be damaged - and a maximum speed of between 30 and 50km/h should be observed, although this can vary depending on the recommendations of the manufacturers of both your chains and your car.

What should I check on my car?

Pretty much the things you should check regularly anyway.

Check your various fluid levels (windscreen washer, oil, transmission fluid and water) are topped up and that everything associated with them is in good condition.

Check the condition of your battery and its connections and that its fluid levels are good.

While you are in the engine bay you should cast a quick eye around all the belts and hoses, making sure they all look healthy and are tight.

Check that your windscreen wipers and lights function properly and that there are no obvious faults, such as cracked and stiff wiper blades or cracks or moisture in the lights.

And finally, and most importantly, check your tyres are at the correct pressure and have no visible faults, as well as a healthy amount of tread.

Fog lights: when and where?

Fog lights can be mystifying to a lot of people, so check out our recent article on there use here.

But the very basic and simple rule for fog lights is; only use them when visibility is severely restricted.

Know your car

This seems pretty obvious right?

But here's the thing - a lot of people couldn't tell you whether their cars was front wheel drive or rear wheel drive. And this can make a big difference when tackling more extreme weather conditions on the road.

Tales abound of people being spotted fitting chains on the rear wheels of a FWD car, plus the proliferation of crossover SUVs and the high 2WD representation in these sorts of vehicles, despite their high-riding appearance, can lead people who don't actually know better to make a dangerous assumption.

Be gentle on the pedals

Because you have less grip and traction in wet, snowy or icy conditions, a gentle, measured approach to both you accelerator and brake pedals is required.

It is pretty obvious that going easier on the throttle will mean less chance of wheelspin and doing likewise with the brakes will lessen the chance of locking up. I

It is also pretty obvious that these are less crucial in modern cars with traction control and ABS brakes, but it will still help massively, especially if your car is a few years old and, as such, has less sophisticated systems than the latest cars.

Whatever the level of electronic systems your car has, however, a gentler approach will always make life easier (and safer) in adverse conditions.

Be prepared

No matter how well maintained your car is, or how experienced in winter driving you are, accident can still happen. That is why they are called accidents.

So being prepared for the worst is a sensible - even life-saving - thing to do, particularly if you are heading out on a long trip.

Carrying even a basic winter survival kit is a very good idea and you can check out our list of recommended essentials in this article.

Be relaxed

Driving in bad weather can be intimidating, but being tense while behind the wheel will only make it worse.

If you can drive competently in dry weather, then you can do it in bad weather as well, just remember to take everything easier, do everything slower and leave more space.

And, of course, if the weather gets too bad, or just too much for you, then pull over as soon as it is safe to do so.

But if you are really nervous about driving in bad weather, then just ask a friend or family member for a ride - there is no sense in becoming a statistic just because you are too proud.