Reducing the Fear of Driving in Winter Driving in winter can be a scary proposition if you have never done it before but there are some simple tips you can follow that will help you be less afraid. However, just reading this will not automatically make you a better winter driver, you are going to need to get out and do the things this article suggests before you will really be better at driving in winter.
Be Prepared If you move to a cold weather climate like Seattle and know you will need to drive your vehicle in the winter time, there are some things you need to do to plan ahead so that you will be prepared when the first winter storm hits. First, you might need to consider buying a new vehicle. If you drive a sports car or convertible, it might not be able to handle the demands of frequent winter driving. If you live in an area that may only have one or two storms all winter long, you can probably get away without replacing your car but if it is going to snow any more frequently than that, you may not have a choice. If you do buy a new vehicle, and maybe even if you do not, you should take a look at your car insurance in Seattle. Most people like to have insurance with the lowest possible premium which means a higher deductible. This might serve you well in warmer climates where accidents are less frequent, but if it is your first winter driving in the snow, you might be better off getting insurance that has a higher monthly premium and a lower deductible. Another important part of being prepared is equipping your vehicle with the right tires to handle the winter conditions. A summer tire probably does not have the right tread pattern to help your car get the grip it needs in a snowstorm. Additionally, tire chains can really come in handy if the weather really gets bad. Tire chains can help you find traction on even the worst of roads. In fact, some mountain passes get so treacherous during winter that you are not even allowed to drive on them without chains on your tires.
Practice, Practice Practice The single most important thing you can do to be a better winter driver is to practice! This can be a little hard to do in the summer, but you need to know how to handle the first scary situation you find yourself in. When it snows, you should take your car to an empty parking lot nearby so that you can learn how to control your car if it starts to slip and slide. When your car does start to slide, do not slam on your brakes, make sure you look in the direction you are trying to steer the vehicle, and calmly steer out of it. If you follow these tips for safer winter driving, you probably won’t need those changes you made to your Seattle car insurance.