Keeping safe around the holidays: how to handle winter driving hazards

Collaborative Post | We’re used to hectic traffic on a daily basis, but the holiday rush always makes it worse. Everyone is looking for presents, travelling, and visiting relatives, so we expect some roads to become considerably congested. 

For example, the M25, M5, and A303 are usually prone to traffic bottlenecks, but this season, it may be best to avoid them and plan your route long before festive days. Luckily, there are alternative routes with less traffic, but they usually take longer or are more complex to drive. Still, remember that driving on congested roads can become even worse if the weather forecast presents chances of snow or fog. 

Therefore, you should be wary of the season’s hazards when driving because you want to arrive safely at your destination and spend the holidays next to your loved ones. Let’s dive in. 

Photo by Ricardo Gomez Angel on Unsplash

Icy roads and poor traction 

Icy roads are the aftermath of rainwater that freezes due to low temperatures. Therefore, the road gets slippery, reducing the tyre’s grip and making it difficult for the car to maintain traction. Consequently, braking is difficult and dangerous since it leads to skidding. 

Unfortunately, few drivers are aware of this issue and drive at regular or high speeds, exposing traffic participants to getting seriously injured in a traffic collision. While victims can work with an advisor for compensation, the aftermath of such an accident is not easy to manage. 

Every driver must use winter tyres or have chains added to minimise skidding. At the same time, maintaining a greater distance than usual between cars is recommended. 

Tricky weather and low visibility 

Winter affects not only the road but also the level of visibility. Rain, sleet, and fog can all contribute to dangers besides snow, which can be difficult to tackle regardless of your driving experience. This is especially dangerous for pedestrians because identifying them is more challenging than usual. 

That’s why it’s best to check the car’s wiper blades and defroster before the season starts to take a toll on the country. Opt for thick rubber in the blades for efficient snow cleaning, and always have an ice scraper with you to clean the windshield and outside mirrors before driving. 

Considering how the weather in the UK behaved lately, with snow bombs across Scotland, for example, brace yourselves and prepare for driving safely. 

Black ice and underrated risks 

One of the most underrated dangers for drivers during winter is black ice. People often see it as water puddles and speed up, but they’re only setting themselves up for an accident because black ice is considerably more dangerous due to its lack of visibility. 

Black ice can appear due to heavy fog, excessive rain, or snowfall, but it looks like regular pavement, which is why drivers are prone to underestimate it. Indeed, authorities are responsible for clearing the road and ensuring the ice and snow don’t impede drivers, but you can never be too sure of the driving conditions, which is why we urge you to pay attention to the road. 

Holiday stress and traffic impatience 

In addition to the seasonal hazards, people are more inclined to act based on stress when driving, which increases the chances of accidents. It’s easy for some people to become aggressive due to holiday stress, especially since many are already having challenging behaviour in traffic. 

Therefore, driving close to the holidays means getting prepared. Watch out for distracted driving around you and maintain distance from such drivers who drift in their lane. It would also be helpful to add some extra time to your regular driving itinerary and leave the house earlier or allocate more time for the drive than usual. This time, you set realistic expectations based on the current situation. 

Finally, make sure to respect all the other traffic participants, such as trucks, for doing such a difficult job in hazardous road conditions and upset drivers. 

The risks of impairment 

During the holidays, parties can get more intense than usual, with people celebrating a new year or the family finally gathering. Therefore, alcohol plays an important role during this time of the year, and it can cause peer pressure or stress relief. This means there might be more impaired people driving or even pedestrians who put a risk to their and your well-being. 

Therefore, be wary of the possibility of impaired drivers being on the road at any time during the holidays, especially at night, and avoid getting too close to them. Of course, you should avoid driving if you’ve had even the tiniest taste of alcohol. Opt for ridesharing instead, and encourage your tipsy friends to do the same. Driving under the influence in winter can lead to life-threatening situations. 

Emergency kit and car winterisation 

If you’re not aware of how to winterise your car, you expose yourself to seasonal risks. First, make sure to always have an emergency kit in the vehicle that includes all the necessary tools for unexpected events. 

At the same time, winterising your car means the following: 

• Replacing the windshield wipers and wiper fluid;
• Checking the defrosting and heating units; 
• Keeping the fuel tank full;
• Keeping the anti-freezing liquid at normal levels;
• Checking the oil and its viscosity; 
• Inspecting the tire pressure; 

If the snowy weather persists, these steps must be completed before every drive. While it’s best to avoid driving during such conditions, sometimes emergencies or the need to be home keep us on the road. Hence, ensuring the vehicle is in optimal condition is best to keep you and everyone around safe. 

Are you excited for the holidays? 

During the holidays, we’re all a bit distracted and overwhelmed by the amount of presents we have to buy and the endless family visits, so we may not be the best drivers. In addition, the challenging weather makes it even more difficult to handle the car, so we must be wary of hazards and risks and navigate slippery roads and problematic drivers. 


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​Disclaimer: this is a collaborative post.