Israel Police

Winter Driving

Driving a car is a complex task, demanding coordination, keen senses, concentration, and alertness. While driving, the driver processes a great deal of information, both in operating his vehicle (accelerating, slowing down, turning, etc.) and in studying the surroundings (traffic lights, pedestrians, junctions, other vehicles, etc.).

Winter weather conditions make the task more difficult – the road affords less traction, and visibility is more limited. These difficulties force the driver to concentrate even more, and to drive wisely, in accordance with the road conditions. At the same time, even a driver with an extremely high level of concentration and alertness will not be able to control his vehicle, unless he takes care to keep it in good repair.

Checking the vehicle’s fitness for winter conditions is not difficult, and, to put it simply, can save lives. This article will teach us how to check whether the vehicle is ready for winter, and how to drive wisely, even when the weather is tricky.
What must be checked?

Check the tires: the tires are the vehicle’s only contact with the road. Keeping them in good repair is a matter of life and death.

Care should be taken to keep the air pressure exactly right, according to the instructions listed by the vehicle manufacturer (to be found usually on a label on the top of the doorframe, or on the cover of the gas tank.) Incorrect air pressure will further decrease the vehicle’s traction, always poorer in wet weather, and can cause the driver to lose control of the vehicle. Insufficient air pressure can also cause a tire to blow up. The tire tread should be checked; if it is less than 3 millimeters deep, the tire must be changed. The tread drains the water from the tire to the road. If the water is not drained, the tire will “float” and lose traction, which can cause an accident.

Check the pedals: the gas pedal, the brakes and the clutch are covered with rubber. If these covers are inadequate or worn, new ones should be fitted. Wet shoes will slip on a pedal, if it is not covered with rubber.

Check the windshield wipers: the integrity and flexibility of the rubber part of the windshield wipers should be checked. Inadequate rubber will not clean the windshield.

Check the water sprinklers for the windshield: the sprinklers for the front windshield should be checked with a pin; it should be verified that the water container is full. In certain conditions, particularly after a rainstorm, the windshield wipers alone will not be enough to clean off mud splattered on the windshield by the wheels of other vehicles.

Check the heating and defogging system: in front - the ventilation and air-conditioning system (Yes, the air-conditioning. Operating the air-conditioning in the direction of the window will immediately dissipate the fog, clearing steamed-up windows). In the back – the defogging system for the rear window.

Check the lighting system: visually check the vehicle’s headlights and all other lights, and replace any burnt out light bulb. It is recommended to check the steering and brake systems at an authorized garage.

Now that the vehicle is ready, you can start driving.

Before you enter the vehicle: clean the windows and mirrors of mist and water to clear your field of vision.

On entering the vehicle: take off your coat, in order to avoid limiting your freedom of movement.Safety belts must always be worn, particularly in winter.

Switching on your lights –recommended at all hours of the day, (except for fog lights, which should be used only in a fog, otherwise they are blinding to others on the road.)

Windows – it is recommended to leave one window slightly open, in order to let some fresh air in and prevent overheating, which is liable to put the driver to sleep.

Driving: Keep in mind that a wet road is usually more slippery than a dry one, particularly in the first rain.

This refers not only to the first rain of the season, but to any rain falling after several dry days. In this situation, the rain floats the dust, diesel oil, and anything else on the road, making it extremely slippery. The average driving speed should therefore be reduced; otherwise, a turn taken easily at a given speed on a dry road can produce an unpleasant surprise at the same speed on a wet road. The reason is simple; the tires, with the help of friction, resist the centrifugal force. On a wet road, on the other hand, the tires have less friction power, while the centrifugal force remains the same, overcoming the tires, and diverting the vehicle from its course. The most effective solution is therefore to reduce the centrifugal force by cutting speed.

Since the tires’ friction power is also affected by acceleration and deceleration, strong acceleration or braking should be avoided, particularly when the road surface is wet (sharp acceleration or slowing on a curve is liable to cause loss of control).

It is also important to keep in mind that the braking distance is longer on a slippery road. At the same speed, the vehicle will travel further on a wet road before stopping. A longer distance should therefore be kept from other vehicles.

Puddles: In principle, it is recommended to completely avoid puddles. If there is no choice, puddles should be entered at the slowest speed possible, while keeping the steering wheel straight, and neither braking nor accelerating (this is where the tire tread has an effect). After leaving the puddle, the brake pedal should be pumped several times, in order to remove the wetness from the brake lining.

Braking: Proper planning when driving will avoid the need for sudden braking. In a normal situation, braking should be done gently, and as early as possible, taking into account the longer braking distance for wet roads. For those driving a car with an anti-blocking system (ABS), if you feel a strong tremor in the brake pedal, and a peculiar noise from the engine compartment, do not panic and take your foot off the pedal. The tremor and noise are the results of the proper operation of the system, not a malfunction. If you feel this happening, continue pressing on the brake pedal.

Acceleration: at the beginning of the journey, or in passing another vehicle, the vehicle should be accelerated gently. Pressing too strongly on the gas pedal on a wet and slick road will cause the wheels to slide, and the loss of traction can cause an accident.

Parking and stopping: yes, even parking must be considered. Stopping at the side of the road is dangerous, and should be avoided. If there is no choice, you should stop as far as possible from the edge of the road, preferably in a parking place or behind some barrier. The emergency lights should be turned on, and care exercised in getting out of the vehicle. Even when parking in an urban area, it is best to avoid parking in places where the vehicle is liable to be hit by another vehicle driven by someone who has not read this article, and may go into a skid on a curve.

The article was written by Police Chief Inspector Zafrir Moisa, an investigator/ research officer in the Traffic Department, who has been a traffic accident examiner for a decade.