In mountainous towns and on roads located in the mountains, extreme travel conditions may occur in winter, when winter tires are no longer enough. A thick layer of snow or ice may make further driving in such terrain virtually impossible. (We may also encounter an order to put on chains, indicated by road signs or police officers. There are many manufacturers of car wheel chains on the market; it is best to get ones that we can put on our vehicle’s tires without difficulty.)
Comfort for the driver is important while driving. Good visibility, proper airflow onto the windows, functioning exterior lights and, for example, an adequate amount of windshield washer fluid all affect road safety.
So let us fill the reservoir and leave a spare supply of fluid in the trunk for emergencies.
At the same time, even a full reservoir of the best fluid will not help if our windshield wiper blades are in poor condition.
Another important matter from the perspective of good visibility and safe driving is the car’s window ventilation system. If we are unable to inspect the car ourselves, let us have it done at a workshop or an authorized service center, which often offer many promotions or carry out such inspections free of charge during this period.
Let us check that all the exterior lights work and that the horn is functioning. For our own convenience, it is a good idea to lubricate the seals so that the doors do not freeze shut in below-zero temperatures.
Summer car mats do not work well during the winter season. They let water through, which collects beneath the floor carpeting and causes the windows to fog up. Used engine oil can lose much of its performance at lower temperatures. Starting a cold engine with such oil contributes to faster engine wear.
An extra warm blanket or hot drinks in a thermos can protect us from chilling during long waits in unexpectedly occurring traffic jams. It is also worth carrying a spare set of basic light bulbs.
A first-aid kit is not mandatory, apart from in taxis and buses, but is only recommended for owners of vehicles registered in our country. Nevertheless, using common sense and imagination, each of us should carry one in our vehicle.
The car should also contain an ice scraper, a snow brush (preferably with soft bristles), and a shovel is also recommended. It may be needed not only by people parking outdoors.
Let us also remember the jumper cables, which will allow us to start the engine using the battery of a helpful driver. If we want to quickly remove ice and frost from the windows, special de-icing sprays and anti-frost products are available.
And when we reach our destination and find ourselves at our dream winter holiday spot, let us remember not to leave the car “on the handbrake.” If we forget, we may have trouble releasing the brake lever in the morning.
During winter, trips for school holidays also remain a very popular form of recreation for children and young people in our country. Officers remind us that police checks of coaches carrying our children have already become a good tradition.
If a supervisor or parent has any suspicions about the condition of a coach carrying children on a trip or school holiday, or if the driver’s behavior indicates that they may be under the influence of alcohol or another similarly acting substance, the former should absolutely not agree to the children’s departure. Traffic police officers should then be called. The organizers of the holiday trip or the parents may request an inspection at any police station, preferably in advance.
That is all—or perhaps that is quite a lot—of the recommendations and advice that will certainly help us travel in our own vehicle during the winter and beyond.
In conclusion, let us remember that our behavior truly has the greatest influence on our safety, and that we are not alone on the road. Let us show other road users plenty of respect and remember that we determine many factors while driving.