Teenagers and Winter Driving: Knowing The Basics – DMVCheatSheets

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When a teenager gets a driver’s license , he or she may be a bit overwhelmed and possibly will start overusing the freedom they are given—sometimes neglecting the precautions necessary to take. The very thought of getting hit by another vehicle or running into accidents during winter might be common and a nightmare to both parents and children. However, there are certain best practices which every teenager should follow in order to drive safely during the winter season. Utmost care needs to be taken while driving in bad weather, driving or passing by school area and blind curves.

General Tips

Following the traffic rules will not only help prevent accidents, but also help you with safe driving and prevent getting hit by others. Going fast makes it more difficult to make an immediate stop. Wearing a seat belt, fixing the car head rest slightly behind your head, having a clean windshield and holding the steering wheel at appropriate angles will help you keep safe.

Don’t drink and drive. Drive considering other drivers on the road. However, you yourself must watch out for the aggressive drivers, especially during bad weathers. By drinking and driving, you are not only risking your life, but also the life of others on the road.
Make sure your vehicle is ready for driving and plan well ahead by filling up your tank with gas— It’s not a certainty that you will get gas during bad weather and road blocks. Be careful about the traffic lights and deer symbols. You may have to face unexpected situations if you neglect them when it is foggy. Never park in fire lanes and always stop when the school bus flashes. Lights are your best friends during bad weathers.
Always check your wheels to prevent any flat tire, especially when you are driving on greasy or icy roads. It is very much difficult to find maintenance or repairs body shops in such bad weathers. For this reason, is it always advisable that you keep your tires up to date and replace them if you suspect any fault at all.

Turns and Overtaking

Passing, merging or turning can be dangerous at blind curves, especially if there is foggy weather or slippery roads due to snow fall. When the intersections are busy, never make a left turn. When the light is dim, you will certainly not be able to foresee danger; as a result, you must wait for the incoming traffic when there is an obstruction.

It is always good to drive during the day when there is sufficient light in order to prevent accidents due to darkness or flash lights from other vehicles. Nights are always misleading, especially when the weather is bad. Make sure your car batteries are completely charged before you set off to drive. A flat battery on a freezing night or day is very scary to almost all teenagers. Hence take precautions to avoid such situations.

Maintenance Tips

Vehicle maintenance is very much essential in order to prevent accidents. Every time you plan to drive in winter, make sure you check the car for fuel and other mechanical problems. Always keep an emergency kit with you in order to prevent accidents in the middle of the road. Tires must have a good amount of pressure and workable tread.

Winter maintenance is highly essential in cases where de-mystifying and de-icing is necessary in order to get your car ready, way before you start driving on the roads. If it is a snowy day, then you might want to adjust the settings of your satellite navigator in order to keep along the major roads.

Driving when it is Snowing

Always switch off your headlights in order to prevent any accidents while driving in the snow. If you are trying to drive a light colored car, especially white, make sure that you turn on your headlights in order to prevent the camouflage in the snow. Using floor mats near the tire edges can get you free if you are stuck in the snow. Check your exhaust tailpipe to ensure that it is positioned right in the event that you get stuck in the snow while driving or while backing off—you may be breath in poisonous gas if your tailpipe is blocked. The overpasses and bridges freeze way before the roads freeze in the winter and roads are pretty slippery as well; hence, be careful when driving.

Following these simple rules will not only keep you as a teenager safe, but also guide you to become a more cautious driver.

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