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Winter weekend on the road: 10 tips for winter driving - Walla! Vehicle

2021-11-16T18:27:08.039Z


Winter weather is expected this weekend, and it's time to refresh some winter driving tips. Braking, keeping distance, steam on the windows and how puddles pass


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Winter weekend on the road: 10 tips for winter driving

Winter driving, probably in the first significant rain requires a change in the way we drive and behave on the road.

This is the Walla! Vehicle winter driving guide with 10 tips you must memorize

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  • winter

  • rain

  • Winter driving

  • Weather

Keenan Cohen

Tuesday, 16 November 2021, 17:36 Updated: 20:13

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The Israeli winter has taken its time this year and according to the weather forecasts, we are going to meet the first serious rain show of the year already this coming weekend.

When it comes to driving, first rain has two main meanings: the first concerns the lower grip coefficient even in relation to wet road conditions.

This is because the water on the road is flooded with dust, oil and other substances that form a slippery layer on the surface of the asphalt and this lowers the level of grip.

The second reason has to do with the driving habits we adopted during the summer months.

It is necessary to adjust the speed of travel in all those turns, interchanges or traffic circles that we are used to passing at a certain speed and now we need to make the "switch" in the head and adjust the speed of travel to the new conditions.



But apart from these, there are also some things that are always good to mention or get to know when it comes to winter driving.

More on Walla!

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Going through puddles?

Consider pedestrians (Photo: Reuven Castro)

1. Tires

Keeping the vehicle assemblies in good condition is important throughout the year, but in winter some of its components become particularly critical.

Tires that have had a hot summer may be cracked, worn and worn - any of these may reduce the car's grip level, especially if the grooves in the tires have reached a level that does not allow efficient evacuation of water, causing the tire to "float" and lose grip.



How will you know how worn out your tires are?

You are welcome to take the "Shekel test".

Take a shekel coin and put it between the grooves in the tire with the number 1 and below it the inscription "New shekel" on which it is addressed to you.

If you do not see the caption, blackmail you, your tires are in good condition.

If you can read the word shekel, the tires are close to replacement, as the grooves are not deep enough.

If you read both words - you're going to change your tires tomorrow morning!

The shekel test.

Familiar?

(Photo: Manufacturer's website)

2. Lighting

Another component that you want to ensure its integrity is the lighting system.

Most headlights in modern cars are made of plastic canopy that after a few years in the Israeli sun gets a murky look that impairs their lighting ability.

In car accessory stores you can buy headlight cleaning kits that return the clear look to the plastic covers.

Look for those from well-known brands like SONEX, 3M, turtle or Maguire's.

If you want to be really frugal, you can also try other patents like using WD40 books or toothpaste - keep in mind, the latter two do not really provide a solution that lasts more than a few weeks.

When was the last time you replaced the brakes?

(Photo: bosch)

3. Brakes

Like tires, the integrity of your brake system is critical throughout the year. But in winter when your starting point is less good to begin with it doubles up the meaning of proper brakes where the pads and plates are quality and not worn.



Another component on which your safety depends is the integrity of the ABS system, which is responsible for keeping your braking distances shorter, will prevent the car from slipping due to wheel locking and will maintain your steering ability even in emergency braking. Fault in lighting a red light on the dashboard. But there is another aspect and that is your familiarity with the system and how it works. Without going into the technical reason why this happens, in most ABS systems, in emergency braking the feeling that is obtained is of vibrations in the pedal and steering wheel - which is perfectly fine, there is nothing to panic about.



It is possible and even desirable to experience such braking in a non-emergency situation independently.

Find a side and empty section of road where you do not endanger or interfere with traffic, accelerate the car to a speed of about 40-50 km / h and brake at maximum power.


And yes, it is allowed, according to section 53 of the traffic regulations.

In winter, it is even more important to maintain a distance from the vehicle in front of us (Photo: manufacturer's website)

4. Keeping distance

Maintaining the correct distance on the road is a very important component in any driving.

Both in terms of safety and in terms of fuel economy and it can even reduce traffic loads.

But in winter, keeping distance is much more critical.

Visibility conditions are not ideal, braking distance is longer, drivers may be startled by a puddle or soil erosion on the road, brake or deviate sharply - how much to add?

Take another second of keeping a distance on a wet road during the day, another second in case of heavy rain and another if it all happens at night as well.

5. Vapors, mirrors and windows

One of the most common phenomena in winter driving is the vapors that form on the inside of the windshield.

A variety of products and grandmother's methods will ensure that you avoid this nuisance, but the solution is much simpler - the air conditioner in your car.

No matter if it is turned on by heat or cold, the whole idea is that the dry air that comes out of it absorbs the moisture, the one that creates the steam, and these disappear quickly.

Some relatively new cars have a special button for this, it is usually located next to the rear window defrost button.



If you got in the car and it's hard for you to see outside due to the water droplets on the windshield, here's a little tip - open and close the window - in its outer part there is a rubber that acts like a mop and is designed for this, among other things.



You turned on the wipers and they creaked or left "paths" on the windshield - they are dry and worn - replace them soon.

More than usual - look for the riders (Photo: Reuven Castro)

6. You and they

Beyond the onerous conditions of driving in winter, it should be remembered that even there we are not alone on and near the road.

Always keep in mind that even the drivers around you also do not see well through waterlogged windows and will have difficulty braking or maneuvering in an emergency.

Be careful not to surprise them, signal earlier than usual and especially things are meant for two-wheeler riders who in winter have to deal not only with poor grip and braking conditions, but also with very problematic visibility through the helmet.



Also pay attention to pedestrians, they are not protected by an airtight vehicle and your too fast passage near a puddle leaves them wet even long after you pass there.

Your car is not amphibious, it is better to give up (Photo: Official website, Eddie Israel, exposure of the Ashkelon Photography School)

7. Puddles

It seems that the infrastructure deficiencies in Israel surprise us every winter anew with the floods and huge puddles that our cars have to cross. So here are some things to know about puddles.



First of all try to avoid crossing deep puddles, even if it means making a small detour and lengthening the road. Have you decided to go inside? Try to get an indication of the depth of the puddle by the sidewalk or cars parked nearby. If the water level passes the sidewalk or half-wheel of an average family car - it's deep. "Vortices" within the stream of water will indicate nasty pits hiding there.



Do you continue? You should do this when you know where the air intake vents for your engine are, otherwise you risk complete and immediate destruction of the engine.



When crossing the puddle make sure to enter slowly, at a steady pace with constant gas and at a low speed.

Slow entry will prevent a water wave from rising to places you do not want water to reach.

Uniform so as not to allow water to penetrate the car's exhaust and at low speeds to allow the tires to maintain maximum contact with the asphalt.



If the steering wheel becomes "light" during crossing, you are probably in a "buoyancy" mode, where the tires lose grip, under no circumstances should the steering wheel be shifted.

The danger lies in the fact that as soon as the grip is renewed, your wheels will be turned to the side and the car will deviate at once.



When you get out of the puddle, do a few short brakes to dry the brake plates and pads.

Pedestrians wrapped in coats, scarves and umbrellas block the field of vision - take this into account (Photo: Reuven Castro)

8. Inquiries

As with stopping distances and accelerations, the lower grip in winter is also critical in turns. The car has a hard time turning and maneuvering like on a dry road and it mostly requires some changes in the way you get in, pass and leave turns.



In the first stage, try to identify the level of drainage on the road, sometimes the water drains on the outside or inside (depending on the slope) and leaves an area where the grip will be slightly better. Sometimes this can also occur in the same place where a number of vehicles have already passed and "dried" the road with their tires.



Adjusting the speed to the bend is critical as well as a smooth entry with as few sharp or abrupt steering actions as possible improving grip. Last recommendation, in sharp turns try to arrive with a very gentle caress of the brake pedal, transferring the weight to the front will improve the attachment of the tires to the asphalt and the grip.



When exiting the turn, be sure to accelerate moderately so as not to cause the front tires to spin and as a result reach a state of loss of grip and in extreme cases also "escape" of the front part in what is known as "understeer".

Also crooked and upside down, the worst there is (Photo: Keinan Cohen)

9. Parked

After we have reached our destination and more than the rest of the year - the unequivocal recommendation is to shop exclusively with the face out, the so-called "Brewers".

In winter parking in this way is much more important and critical because when visibility conditions are poor and water droplets cover the rear window and mirrors, the last thing we want is to start driving out into the lane of other cars without seeing anything.



Parking with the face out will allow us a much better view of what is happening in the lane.

Do not enter a puddle that you do not know how to get out of (Photo: Niv Aharonson)

10. Shoes and clothing

Your car has heating, no need to stay with a bulky jacket, scarf and sock hat that will restrict your movements while driving.

Remove all of these clothing items to allow you to move your head freely to look in the mirrors or side windows.



Are you approaching the car?

Your soles are wet, a moment of inattention and the first press on the brakes the foot slips from the brake pedal, in the worst case, it slides to the accelerator pedal.

Just before setting off, wipe the carpets in the car, or better yet, hold a small rag for just that purpose.

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Source: walla

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