Winter driving myths

With much of the country suffering from sub zero temperatures that we Britons are just not used to, we look at the most common winter driving myths that some still believe in today:

Skidding – when your car skids it’s said that you should just slam on your brakes or let go of the wheel to let the car regain control. This is false, you should never let go of the steering wheel if the car skids, instead steer into the skid and you will then regain control of the car.

Gears – when driving in snow and ice the car should be driven at lower gears at all times. False, you may sometimes need to use a higher gear to move off and gain gripping when driving in packed snow and ice.

Windscreen wipers – in winter there is no need to take the time to clear the windscreen as the wipers will do this for you. False, many people do not realise that the wiper fluid will freeze in very cold temperatures so it’s beneficial to put some additives in the wiper fluid to prevent it from freezing. This will ensure that you can easily clear ice, frost and snow from the windscreen saving you precious time so you don’t have to get up that extra bit early in the cold winter mornings.

Driving speed – experienced drivers are safer when driving in wintry conditions so they can go a little bit faster than others. False, no matter how experienced you are at driving you could easily lose control of your vehicle when driving in snow and ice. Everyone should drive at a safe speed and allow enough distance between your car and the vehicle in front; you should also take more time when turning corners to prevent skidding and losing control of the car.
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4x4’s and powerful cars *– driving a car with a bigger engine such as a 4x4 in snow is safer because they are bigger and have more power when it comes to control. False, 4x4’s are prone to turning over, so be sure to drive slowly and take your time; there’s no need to be reckless and show off just because you have a bigger vehicle than everyone else.

Tyre pressure – many people believe that you should use a lower tyre pressure to help with traction in ice and snow. False, lower pressure does mean higher traction but with the fluctuation in temperature, the tyres can flex causing them to rupture. Ideally you should check tyre pressure every week if not then monthly as a precaution.