Winter Collision: 5 ways to prevent car accidents
On ice and snow-covered roads, it is very important to be aware of the basics of safe driving to avoid winter collisions. When it comes to driving during winter, 30% of the accidents occur due to snow- and ice-covered roads. As per the reports of the Traffic Accident Information System (TAIS), almost 5% of accidents occur during snowfall and 50,000 accidents occur each year due to precipitation.
Approximately 6cm of snow is covered on the ground during the snowiest months i.e. in between November and April in Canada. Extreme snow depth reaches up to 25cm. Although Canadians are familiar with driving in the snow, the winter weather continues to play its role in the number of collisions that occur every year.
Ways to Prevent Car Accidents during winter
To help you ensure the safety and prevent accidents during winter, follow our driving tips to know how to avoid accidents due to snow and ice:
Winterize your vehicle
Get your vehicle ready for winter weather. Consider replacing your car’s tires with winter tires as these are designed to grip the snow and ice. Winter tires provide better handling and can allow you to brake more quickly.
Make sure to check the pressure of tires as the air tends to contract during colder weather. To get a better grip and handling make sure to have a properly inflated tire. Get your vehicle properly inspected by a professional.Pay attention to the weather
Before you start your drive, make sure to check the weather conditions as a part of your daily routine. Although the sudden change in weather conditions is risky for driving, make sure to consider alternative paths and plan your route ahead of time.
Make the assumptions based on the changing temperature. If the temperature is freezing, probably you might come across the ice. So, plan accordingly and make sure to be more cautious when approaching bridges and areas that are more likely to be covered with ice or snow.Slow down
Reducing speed is a very important thing to do while driving on snow or icy roads. High-speed driving might make it difficult to both control and stop your vehicle. The preferred speed limit to drive during winter is 45mph especially when roads are icy.
In some extreme cases, you might have to slow your speed. If you start to skid or fishtailing or slide, you need to slow down.Go Easy on Brakes
Brake application is the common trigger of slides that results in loss of control. Having an antilock brake will allow you to increase control and stability during hard braking. With the help of the sensors mounted on each wheel, Abs prevents locking by monitoring the speed of each wheel and automatically pulsating the brake pressure when it detects skidding. To avoid skidding make sure to have a slower and easy movement.
Avoid distractions
You cannot risk your life due to distraction especially if the weather conditions are not good enough. Make sure to avoid using your phone, adjusting the radio, or talking to your co-passengers when driving in snow. Focus on the road while driving on icy and snowy roads to avoid winter collisions.
Unfortunately, it is not possible to simply hibernate for six months and avoid the winter weather altogether! However, the best way to prevent accidents during the winter weather is to drive slowly or avoid driving in bad conditions.
If you’ve been a victim of winter weather and have been in a collision, contact us today. At QCCollision we provide a variety of guaranteed collision repair services. Book your appointment today for affordable Auto collision repair for your vehicle.
