As we approach the colder, wetter time of the year, it’s important to have a reminder about how your braking distance changes with the climate. In wet conditions, your braking distance can double, and could even increase tenfold in snow or ice. It’s important to think about these factors to not only keep yourself safe but the people around you as well. So as the weather starts to take a turn for the worse, you will need to reduce your speed and leave a bigger gap between your car and the vehicle in front of you. There are other dangers to be aware of too:
Rain
You may find that your car starts to aquaplane whilst driving in heavy rain, this happens when a layer of liquid forms between the rubber and the road. Your tyres will begin to struggle to disperse standing water efficiently, causing you to lose control of your vehicle, which therefore makes it difficult to brake, accelerate or steer effectively.
The initial reaction in this situation is to immediately apply the brake. However, you need to remain calm and consider the following:
- Keep a tight hold of your steering wheel and calmly steer in the direction you want to go
- Ease off the accelerator and gently pump the brakes
- Do not accelerate or hit the brakes
Snow and Ice
As we enter the end of the year where the weather turns significantly colder, ice and snow become a danger to all drivers. Ice and snow can become compacted within the tyre tread, leading to a loss of grip, which could increase the risk of an accident. As for your stopping distance, this increases monumentally, and you must take extra care whilst driving in these conditions to avoid any unforeseen consequences.
If your vehicle begins to encounter problems while driving on snow and ice, consider the following:
- Do not hit your brakes, as this could result in your vehicle becoming more unstable
- If you begin to skid, turn your wheel in the direction of the skid
How to improve your stopping distance
There are various things you can do as a driver to help reduce your braking distance:
Slow down – Simple, yet effective when keeping your car under control during the winter period. Decrease your speed to maintain control, your stopping distance is still going to be longer than usual but you’ll have less momentum driving you forward.
Choose good quality tyres – Improve your grip on the road and feel more confident whilst driving in winter conditions by fitting winter tyres to your vehicle.
Regular tyre pressure checks – Your tyres must be inflated to meet their required tyre pressures at all times. This helps to maximise your tyres contact with the road surface, which will improve your stopping distance.
Check your tyre tread – By law, tyres must have a minimum tread depth of 1.6mm. Anything below this could result in you being fined and receiving penalty points on your licence. For more information on how to check your tyres head over to our help section.
Here at ASDA Tyres, we stock a range of best selling winter tyres, from leading brands such as Michelin and Bridgestone, make sure you have the correct tyres this winter.