A few decades ago, year-round driving was akin to madness – it was decided by a few car owners. Cars refused to start in the cold, no one had winter tires, and the car was a pity: it was then purchased almost for life. Today, there is a different extreme: an inexperienced car owner sometimes does not notice the change of seasons, continuing to drive as if nothing had happened. The engine starts, the car is warm – what else do you need?



We need to change the tires-this, fortunately, everyone has learned. Driving on slippery and simply snow-covered roads on summer tires is not even extreme, but banal stupidity that has no justification. But that's not all.

  • Distance

Even a serviceable modern car does not have the physical ability to brake on a slippery surface as effectively as in the summer. And this applies not only to you, but also to your neighbors on the road. Therefore, always try to keep your distance, as well as avoid sudden braking and changing lanes. If some driver in the traffic is openly showing off, dodging between the rows at high speed, never get involved in a"race for survival". If you want to feel like an athlete – go to the cart track or specially prepared tracks. Or even better, take a course of counter-accident training.

Watch the cars behind you and near you. It is necessary to leave a place in order to safely brake in the event of a skid.
Special attention is paid to pedestrians. Unfortunately, recently they behave frankly carelessly: they are accustomed to the fact that the driver will always give way to them everywhere and always. Therefore, at any second, you need to be prepared for the fact that the next owner of a smartphone, headphones, hood and other modern paraphernalia will start crossing the road in a convenient place for him personally, without paying any attention to you. And the winter road will not always allow you to slow down in time – and those driving behind may not have time to react to your maneuver. The moral is simple: reduce the speed compared to the summer speed. One day, it may save someone's health and even their life.

  • Water treatments


The car is the face of its owner. However, in winter, water procedures are fraught with a lot of trouble. Frozen water drops can lead to the fact that the doors will stop opening, side windows will not want to go down, mirrors will not fold, etc. Private nuisance from water threatens the cracks in the paint and varnish coating of the car – they can start to progress. Therefore, it is desirable to treat all rubber seals with a silicone-containing lubricant – even sponges for shoes are suitable. And after the car wash, the car should be dried as thoroughly as possible – not all car washers want to spend time on this.

  • Washing machines


In severe cold, the jet from the washer nozzle abruptly loses its former intensity – sometimes it does not reach the edge of the wipers at all, leaving the glass dirty. The bad washing liquid that stores sell is to blame. A good, frost-resistant one is sold in markets and roadside ruins – it contains methyl alcohol, which retains fluidity in the cold and therefore behaves much better than the isopropyl alcohol allowed for use. Keep this in mind.

  • Frosty morning


It happens that when the owner gets into the car in the morning, he discovers frozen windows in the cabin. This is a consequence of the fact that after yesterday's trip, warm, humid air remained in the cabin. To minimize such incidents, before leaving the car, try to ventilate its interior, opening the doors wide open for at least a minute.

  • Visit hypermarkets


A hypermarket is not only a lot of useful and useless goods, but also an underground parking lot, from which there can be a real benefit. In winter, it is warmer there than on the street, and therefore the ice growths in the wheel arch niches will fall off from your car, and all frozen elements – from mirrors to the fuel tank plug-will also return mobility. Note that if necessary, it is not a sin to check the tire pressure: it is more pleasant to do this indoors than in the cold wind.

  • Parking in the snow


When you leave your car in the parking lot, whether at the office or at home, always consider whether it will be easy for you to leave this place. In winter, the main problem for you is snow. In a heavy snowfall, it attacks so much that the car will begin to slip helplessly when trying to move. In this case, before you turn off the engine, try to ride back and forth at least half a meter-meter. This will make it easier to leave the parking lot.

  • Diesel fuel freezes!


If the owners of gasoline cars have never encountered and will never encounter frozen gasoline, then diesel breeders can do this in any frost. At many gas stations, even in winter, they sell summer fuel, which turns into a kind of thick sour cream in the cold. There is only one salvation: a tow truck and a trip to a warm room: no anti-gels will help. To avoid this, carefully choose the gas station locations, focusing exclusively on branded gas stations. Do not hesitate to ask questions like "What column do you have a winter DT?" And keep track of where professional drivers fill up-they do not miss in such questions.

  • 8 Spare the battery pack


The colder it is outside, the worse the battery life is. The starting currents increase in the cold, the charge at the same time it perceives poorly, and the number of loads becomes almost maximum-wipers, headlights, heaters, fans, etc. So every time you start the engine, listen, is it easy to turn the starter? If the engine starts almost instantly-good.

But if the starter turns sluggishly, and the indicators on the panel are suspiciously dimmed, then the battery must be saved. In the best case – urgently recharge, at worst-change to a new one. But even after the replacement, remember: winter driving in traffic jams and with small runs can lead to the fact that the new battery will die in a couple of weeks. Under such operating conditions, it will have to be recharged from time to time – there is no other way out.

  • Brake properly.

If there is heavy ice and the grip on the road surface is minimal, it is recommended to press the brake pedal slightly until the wheels stop completely. (without ABS system)
If you need to brake urgently, and the road is uneven, try to release the brake pedal before the bumps, so as not to provoke a skid of the rear axle.
When turning, try to brake smoothly.
When driving down the slope, alternate the gas and brake.
If the icy road is covered with water, you need to brake with the "engine", i.e. take your foot off the gas and wait for the car to slow down. This method is the safest and most effective and can be used on a daily basis.

Winter riding is fundamentally different from summer riding. Experienced drivers know this very well, but beginners sometimes forget.