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A Guide to Safely Drive Your Car In Winter 

By Vikas Chandra Das
04 August 2022, 10:54 AM

Driving in good and pleasant weather is not as complicated as driving in bad weather. Whether you are driving in summer, monsoon, or winter, harsh weather always negatively impacts your car. So, your car always needs to be in first-class condition and must have at least third-party car insurance before hitting the road in bad weather so you can get the safe and most comfortable ride. 

Driving in chilled and harsh winter weather is always challenging and brutal for everyone. Thus, a car owner must take the proper care of their car to eliminate the risk of unpleasant situations. Moreover, when you take proper care, follow safety tips before driving, and have the best car insurance for your car, you can also reduce the expenses on repairs or maintenance. So, let's unfold the most important safety and care tips to follow while driving in winter. 

10 Safety Tips to Follow While Driving in Winter 

1. Examine Your Car Well

Before hitting the road, remember that your car's condition decreases during winter. Thus, the need to inspect your vehicle and its maintenance also arises. Always ensure that every part of your car is working well. 

Examine the headlight, tyres, windows, battery, fuel tank, engine, etc. Remember every minor to major part of your car is essential for driving; if you find any issue, you must promptly repair and maintain them to avoid further mishaps. And also, always buy comprehensive car insurance for better financial assistance after mishaps.  

2. Maintain Your Car Battery

As mentioned above, the condition of cars gets down during winter due to cold temperatures; therefore, car batteries often expire in chilled weather. As we know, to keep your car running in winter, you need a powerful engine with a powerful battery to give solid performance in cold conditions. Thus, always examine your car battery, maintain your car battery, and ensure the terminals on the car's battery are not corroded before departing your home.   

3. Check Tyres

During winter, roads are mostly wet due to snow or fog, which makes roads more slippery. Ensure your car's tyres have adequate air pressure to reduce the risk of accidents. Follow the owner's manual to check the recommended tyre pressure before inflating or deflating.

4. Prepare Your Car

Even the slightest fault can lead to a significant safety issue during the winter season. So, always prepare your car by putting it through a service that will promptly identify and fix the problem. Moreover, always prepare your car by buying new car insurance online to get financial aid after any unwelcoming situation.

5. Examine Wipers and Washer Fluids

A windshield wiper and washer fluid play a significant role in winter, although they do not have a long life. Thus, in a few months, you must constantly examine and purchase a good quality wiper and washer fluid to act as an antifreeze solution. 

6. Inspect Brakes 

After starting your engine and driving, you cannot stop your car without the help of brakes. Hence, always inspect that your brake pads and discs are working well. 

7. Warm Up Engine 

Cold weather makes everything freeze; warming up by revving your car engine for a few minutes can help the engine oil cover every nook and corner. This tip will help you to get safe and smooth driving. 

8. Allow Extra Time Before Traveling

You must spend a little time before initiating your journey to de-mist and de-ice. When you de-mist and de-ice the car properly with lukewarm water, you can see through your car window, which helps better driving.  

9. Always Take Emergency Pack 

There are high chances of unwelcoming conditions during winter. So, always take basic emergency materials like a torch, warm clothes, insulated blanket, food, drinks, first aid box, de-icer, jump leads, ice shaper, shovel, etc., in your car before departing your home. 

10. Buy or Renew Your Car Insurance 

After considering all the essential safety tips, you should never forget to buy and renew your car insurance. Repairing and maintenance damages due to harsh winter conditions can be expensive, but with car insurance, you can quickly shift this burden to the insurer. It is advisable to buy comprehensive car insurance as this policy offers complete protection to your car and saves you from costly garage bills.  

Read more - 10 Rules That Must Be Followed While Driving on Indian Roads

Conclusion 

Driving a car in winter is not a piece of cake for everyone; the winter season sometimes can be brutal for drivers. When one takes proper winter vehicle preparation, it helps to prevent severe mishaps or breakdowns. Moreover, having car insurance is also essential for every car owner. If you have your car insurance, you can reduce the cost of repairs and breakdowns. Thus, always purchase and renew car insurance on time. Get in touch with Paytm Insurance to find the best car insurance company in India. Paytm Insurance scans car insurance policies offered by top insurance providers and simplifies policy purchases.

Read more - Quick Guide to Understand Pay As You Drive Car Insurance Policy

FAQs

1. How should one drive safely in winter weather?

While driving in winter, you must fasten your seat belt, keep your car within the speed limit, be attentive, avoid cruise control, and use a low-beam headlight.

2. What are the primary elements to driving safely in winter?

While driving a car in winter, you must always stay attentive, have a good car insurance plan, drive slowly, and never drink while driving.

3. What to check before driving in the cold weather?

During winter, you must check your car's ignition system to escape unpleasant situations. Always focus on the wires and ignition caps to ensure they are in place. Moreover, ensure your car has enough antifreeze coolant levels before driving. 

4. How to stop a car on an icy road?

You can stop your car on ice with the help of anti-lock brakes. Although, if your vehicle does not have these brakes, you can manually pump to handle and control the car on slippery roads.

5. Which gear is best while driving on ice?

Instead of using first gear or another gear, second gear is the best option to use while driving on ice. The second gear helps to reduce the risk of wheels slipping and controls the braking distance between the car and other vehicles very well. Besides icy roads, second gear is always the best option for use in leaves, rain, and snow. 

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