Riders guide to winter drives

Winter rides give you a feeling of chill before you get on a winter trip. The cool breeze, shivering hands, a hot cup of tea are all you want to enjoy during your winter trip. Before setting off though, looking after things from the safety perspective is of utmost importance as difficulties posed by the coldest months of the year can make driving more daunting.

We all know in 2020 we saw a dramatic change in the tourism sector due to the Covid-19 pandemic. With the ‘second wave of the epidemic phasing off this year, tourists start crowding up the hill stations for their much-awaited winter trips which used to be a part of their yearly routine. Now, testing of patience is no longer a part and parcel for travel lovers with the happening of unlocking series has seen a surge in the tourist flock in the hill stations of Shimla and Manali as per the recent news.

Driving your car in extreme winters isn’t as smooth as it seems. You need to smoothly handle your steering wheel, brakes, and accelerator when you drive in freezing winters. The jerky movements with the control unstick the tires that have an insubstantial grip on the slippery road. So, you need to make sure that every turn of the wheel of your car, push applied on the brakes, and movement of the throttle must be cautious, gentle, and moderate. Pretend there’s a cup of piping hot coffee in your lap while you drive so as not to spill it.

You should look and think beyond while you drive on the slippery road. Assess what you will be doing next. Try slowing down as the turn comes. Apply double stop on the breaks when the road is wet, triple on snow, and on the icier road. Be extra cautious and attentive while you drive carefully and safely on the roads.

If you feel your car is going to glide, always focus on where you want to go instead of your car which is heading at that specific moment. Allow your peripheral vision to take care of what you are trying to avoid. Racing drivers know that they are almost always finishing up at where they are looking at; that becomes one of the reasons they are better off recovering from glides.

Increase space and visibility to detect potential hazards on the roads before they occur. Make sure to maintain sufficient gaps between side and front vehicles to avoid any mishaps or a missed attentiveness while applying emergency brakes.

No matter which type of glide you are facing, make sure you keep your wheels pointed in the direction you want to be heading to. And always remember to carefully apply your brakes if you think you can return without hitting anything. If the impact is forthcoming, don’t be scared to stand on the brake pedal will help you save from all corners.

If everything fails and you want to immediately stop as quickly as possible in freezing winters, it’s time to use your car’s anti-lock brake system (ABS). It uses an onboard computer to fully utilize the car's braking in extreme conditions.

If you feel your car is gliding on a wet and snowy road which you can’t recover- all you need is to apply the ABS system - an elevated technological system where you can push the brake pedal down hard, and don’t let your leg move upwards. The computer will take care of the rest, allowing each wheel braking as aggressively as possible to maneuver depending on the available traction.

Riding in the winter demands extra alertness. Open the fog lights if driving in cold conditions makes it difficult for you to drive even turning on with your simple headlights won’t clear the dimness. This will alert the other vehicle coming towards you in a one-way direction to adjust their path before any uneventful collision leaves you awe-struck. My rule of thumb is always looking 15 seconds ahead before you direct your car using your senses.

Heading towards the top of hill stations during a freezing cold? Fitting a set of four winter tires ( also called ‘snow tires’) is the survival tip you can follow for the sake of your safety and reduce your anxiety on those awful snow-capped roads. To get better traction in snow, ice and slush use proper winter tyres which offer you the best combination of all-season tyres.