With winter comes snow, fog, cold and icy roads. To avoid accidents or let’s leave some advice for these days of frost and snow
Carry equipment (chains or contact wheels)
The most important thing for driving in winter, especially in mountainous areas like Andorra, is to have the necessary equipment, which is mandatory in Andorra (if you don’t have it and it starts snowing, you’ll be fined). You must keep tires or chains in the trunk and know how to use them in case of snowfall.
Respect the safety distances
In snow, ice, fog, or even rain, it’s always a good idea to increase your safety distance from the vehicle in front of you to give yourself more room to react and thus avoid an accident or reduce the impact.
Reduce speed and long marches in the snow
When the road is snowy or wet, slipping problems increase, thus endangering our safety. Therefore, it’s advisable to reduce speed and use high gears when starting off, such as shifting into second gear instead of first gear, especially in snowy conditions, to prevent the car from skidding.
Avoid sudden braking and unnecessary overtaking
It is important to drive smoothly to avoid collisions with the vehicle or the car slipping. The ideal, especially in the snow, is to use the engine brake and press the brake as little as possible.
Avoid overtaking, as this requires increasing speed and can pose a risk to us and other drivers. We should not forget that our vision may be reduced and that no matter how confident we are, we never know how the other driver might behave.
Be prepared in case we stay
We must be prepared for any situation, so we must carry at least a flashlight, a charged cell phone, a full fuel tank, water, some food, warm clothing, a blanket or thermal blanket, and a small first-aid kit.
Always inform yourself before going out
It’s very important to check the weather forecast and road conditions. Be prepared for potential problems.
Stop and rest during a trip
They recommend driving every three hours year-round, but the number is even higher in winter, as winter driving requires more attention and stress. Therefore, it’s advisable to take more breaks and rest.
It is also advisable not to set the heating too high in the car.
The temperature inside the vehicle should be comfortable but not excessive, as this can contribute to insomnia.
The important thing when driving or traveling year-round, and especially in winter, is to be careful and arrive safely (the weather doesn’t matter, but you should arrive safely).