Winter driving

Driving in the winter asks for certain rigor and for vigilance on behalf of all the drivers. Indeed, before to taking the road in winter it’s necessary to be well prepared and attentive. Why are we talking about this in the middle of March? Because we know that Spring is right around the corner, but winter always goes out with one or two last big snow falls.

The other day, after looking at the best route to get to my appointments, I found myself on a side road that was more or less “clear”. I don’t like to take these side roads because I never know what state they’re going to be in, or what I’m going to drive on, because I had the sun in front of me reflecting on the road, I couldn’t make out if I was driving on wet asphalt, ice, or snow.

This situation gets worse when spring comes with the melting snow leaving large puddles of water on the roadside. So, then you have to pay attention to the aquaplaning: or else risk sidewinding or losing control of the vehicle.

Anyway, on top of everything else, I came across a snowplow and had to slow down and swerve to avoid an accident. They take up a lot of space and can appear out of nowhere at the end of a bend or behind a hill. Like I said, you have to be alert at all times to be able to react and avoid a disaster. Fortunately, the car behind me had kept some distance with me, which allowed it to slow down and avoid rear-ending my car.

Before I travel, I always plan more time in case I encounter such unexpected events, closed roads or detours due to snow accumulation or flooding (especially in the spring).

Someday, I hope to practice my winter driving in an empty parking lot with a professional. It would help me get better control of my vehicle in the snow and allow me to sharpen my reflexes even more and be more confident once I get on the road. But even if I happen my winter driving would improve, not everyone has good winter driving skills, and the person in front of me could make a mistake and cause an accident. Scary!

Finally, if you feel stressed, anxious, or panicked about driving on the snow, like me, you can always ask someone around you to drive you or postpone your trip to go about your errands in less stressful conditions. By Jasmine Beausoleil