As you wake up each morning during winter and peep out of the windows to see the outdoor space covered in frost, it can be a pleasant sight. However, the thought of driving and reaching your office or dropping the kids off at school can make you feel tense. Just a bit of prepping is needed to drive on the streets with confidence during winter. Those who have enrolled in the top Driving Schools in Oxford know the best ways to navigate the snow-covered roads with utmost ease.
Those who drive during winter for the first time might feel a little knot of anxiety. This is pretty normal for the first timers as the ice, snow and fog can be quite intimidating. However, those who have gone through the rigours of training in top driving schools know how to drive with confidence during the coolest months of the year. Even if the temperatures drop, the driver knows how to seamlessly navigate through the roads covered in frost.
Why does driving seem difficult during the winter?-Explore now
The skill set required for driving during winter and that needed during summer are pretty much different. As one learns to drive on dry roads, it easily boosts the confidence of the learner drivers. Moreover, it becomes easier for them master manoeuvring and moving safely around roundabouts and junctions. However, with a dip in temperature after the arrival of autumn, things start to change. The driver finds everything unfamiliar.
With rain, it becomes a struggle to get a grip on the surface. Moreover, as fog rolls in fast, the visibility is drastically reduced. Things can exacerbate with ice on the road, as the risk of accidents cannot be ruled out.
Furthermore, as night sets in early, things can go haywire for the drivers. Additionally, the wee hours of the morning are pretty dark, which makes commuting difficult. Those who have cleared their test with flying colours in daylight feel stressed while navigating winter congestion. Drivers who find driving through Botley Road, Headington Hills, and Cowley side streets a cakewalk during winter also have a tough time as frost sets in. One has to incline gently to take control of the car when the temperature plummets and goes below freezing limits.
Things to do while driving on icy roads in winters
Hollywood movies have long dramatised driving on icy roads with cars skidding on roads and the studs saving damsels before a speeding car hits her. However, things are different in reality, and it is much less exciting than it seems while driving on the roads during winter.
Those who drive must slow down, as this is imperative. The instincts often fail as it is hard to get a grip. The stopping distance on ice-covered roads is ten times longer when compared to dry roads. For instance, as one needs to stop, it can take them 300 metres, which generally takes no more than 30 metres. This holds for modern vehicles as well, which have the best brakes with cutting-edge technology. Moreover, cars with cutting-edge stability systems and excellent traction control find it hard to get a grip.
Space is more like a safety net between your vehicle and the car ahead, as the gap of a couple of seconds learnt in the driving lessons must be extended to almost ten seconds. This is more like being sensible and not overly cautious, which might seem to others.
The application of braking, steering, changing gears and accelerating must be made more gently than is usually. As all of it is done gradually and smoothly, there are no sudden movements which can break traction. Moreover, the entire windscreen must be cleared to improve visibility. It helps a great deal while the glare of the sun is pretty less and there is enough fog.
The drivers must use the gears with dexterity as the roads are slippery. This is the best way to slow down the vehicle. The steering control is easily maintained as engine braking minimises the dependency on the brakes. This is the safest way to drive on roads which are covered in ice.
How to prepare the car for driving in the winter?-Let’s know more.
The condition of the vehicle plays a bigger role while driving on icy roads during winter. It is important to check the condition of the tyre first. A minimum of 3mm of tread depth of the tyre is needed to get the perfect grip on roads covered with slush, rain and light snow. Before winter sets in, it is important to check the car’s tyres. Moreover, the pressure also needs to be checked as it can drop during cold weather.
It is important to check the lights as well, with foggy mornings and darker afternoons. The bulbs need to be cleaned so that they work properly. The light output is much less if the headlights are dirty. It can be quite hard to clean the windscreen with water as it freezes during winter. The best winter screen wash must be used in place of windscreen washer fluids as it is the ideal option.
The driver who has learnt the skills of driving from top Driving Schools in Oxford knows for a fact that a false sense of security can creep up with modern safety features in vehicles. Traction control, ABS, and stability control help a great deal while driving and bestow proper judgment.
Understand the challenges of Oxford’s roads during winters
Oxford has its own winter quirks, and this is true for the surrounding areas as well. It can be extremely hazardous to drive on rural roads like Kidlington, Wheatley and Abingdon during early mornings.
The conditions of A34 and the Oxford Ring Road are different. With one stretch being fine and the other icy, it can make things difficult for the driver. The risk is higher in shaded sections and bridges as freezing happens faster and the roads remain icy longer than usual.
The traffic in the city centre is hard to navigate, as the risk of skidding or wheel spinning is hard to avoid on cold roads with stop-start driving. All of it happens at roundabouts and junctions as drivers need to be careful and avoid accidents.
Those who are heading towards a designated location during the winter must have some extra time. This will make sure that they are unhurried and not uptight while reaching the destination.
How do winter driving lessons help?-Check out the top reasons
Those who have cleared their driving test in the summer and do not have much experience driving in challenging winter conditions must enrol for the best Driving Lessons in Oxford.
As one masters the skills of driving on dry roads, they hardly learn anything about driving on roads covered with snow and ice. Moreover, it is hard for them to navigate traffic in heavy fog. Those who want to master the art of driving in difficult winter conditions must contemplate enrolling in a winter driving refresher lesson.
Many might think that it is a weakness to go for such a lesson all over again when they already know how to drive. However, contrary to such popular belief, choosing a winter driving refresher lesson is a smart move. The driver learns to drive the car with utmost ease, even if there is limited grip on the roads. Moreover, they learn to quickly spot hazards and stay calm even if there are no distractions.
As one learns all these top skills in the controlled environment of the driving schools, it helps boost their confidence. Furthermore, these skills stick with them forever and guarantee a great experience behind the wheel while driving in challenging winter conditions.
One must not wait for a frightening experience before looking for the best training. They must be prepared well in advance and must not wait for things to go wrong.
Final Lines
With ice-capped roads, many drivers might think of staying off the road. However, just a bit of preparation is enough to drive on the roads of Oxford. At Drive Professional Driving School, we provide the ideal driving preparation guide for drivers in Oxford in the winter. We are one of the best Driving Schools in Oxford, where drivers learn how to drive vehicles safely in difficult winter conditions.
Those who are looking for professional guidance must enrol in the best Driving Lessons in Oxford. This will give the drivers a good grasp of driving in tough winter conditions with added confidence.
Do you want to know more about the range of driving lessons we offer? Feel free to visit our website to scoop key details whenever you fit. Schedule an appointment and book a spot to master the skills of calm and controlled driving during winter.
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