These seven awesome winter driving tips come from a top-rated legal expert. I am in a snow-filled country for 7 months. It really makes sense. Especially when we see snow and winter every year, we tend to get careless!!
1. Wearing a coat, hat, gloves or scarf
As the temperatures drop, it can be tempting to wrap up warm on a frosty winter’s day. But due to the fact that scarves, hats, and puffy coats can impact visibility and the ability to use your car’s controls, winter clothing could be considered a hazard.
Gloves could also affect your ability to grip the steering wheel or gear stick.
2. Splashing pedestrians
In some countries you could rack up a whopping fine if caught splashing pedestrians on a rainy day. This could be considered careless, incompetent, selfish, aggressive or inconsiderate behaviour on the road. You could be summoned to court and given penalty points.
3. Failing to clear snow and ice from roof and windows
As the saying goes; if you fail to prepare, prepare to fail. It can be easy to miss when rushing out to your morning commute, but it is important to make sure windows are fully de-misted. Remove any ice or snow from windows and the top of the car as this could fall off and into the path of other road users.
4. Incorrectly using fog lights
It may sound obvious, but you should never use your fog lights if visibility is clear as this could create a glare and dazzle both you and other drivers.
5. Check under the car before driving on cold mornings
Whilst checking under your car on a winter morning isn’t a legal requirement, motorists are still urged to have a quick look before setting off, as there could be sleeping animals sheltering from the cold. Cats and other animals could be seriously injured or killed if they decide to rest in the wheel arches during a chilly night, so it’s important to stay vigilant.
6. Driving with unrestrained pets
As we see the rise of pet owners opting to drive rather than walk in the cold and families travelling with their pets for Christmas, remeber to make sure dogs or other animals are suitably restrained so they cannot distract you while you are driving.
A seat belt harness, pet carrier, dog cage or dog guard are ways of restraining animals in cars. You could be charged for driving without due care and attention.
7. Avoid on street parking if foggy
Parking your vehicle on a street or roadway in foggy weather is especially dangerous. Foggy mornings are naturally a more common occurrence in the winter months, but drivers should avoid parking in fog at all times unless abandoning your vehicle is unavoidable, in which case you should leave parking lights switched on.