What to Pay Attention to When Learning to Drive in Winter?
2 Answers
Here are the precautions for learning to drive in winter: 1. Keep Warm: In winter, don't prioritize style over comfort, especially keeping your hands and feet warm at all times for flexible operation. Carry a thermos with you to have hot water to drink and warm your hands. 2. Maintain Flexibility: Even if you're afraid of the cold, avoid wearing thick gloves while driving, and don't wear overly thick shoes. Sports shoes with good insulation are the most suitable. Do some warm-up exercises before getting in the car to loosen up your hands and feet. 3. Be Mindful of Road Conditions: Winter often brings rain, snow, fog, and frost. When learning to drive, pay attention to anti-skid and anti-fog measures, slow down as much as possible, keep the steering wheel steady, and learn to use the car's heater and windshield wipers. If staying in the car for a long time, crack open a window slightly to let in fresh air, which helps disperse fog and keeps your mind clear.
As a veteran instructor at Northern Driving School, I emphasize several key points to my students every winter. Using fluffy steering wheel covers can be slippery and pose safety risks—I recommend fingerless anti-slip gloves instead. Always start your car five minutes early for warming up and defrosting before morning practice; never drive if side mirrors aren’t clearly visible. Bulky down jackets hinder driving—opt for thin down vests layered with thick sweaters. Brake early and gently anticipating icy roads, and ease off the throttle before turns. If snowfall obscures visibility, beginners should let the instructor drive back to the school. For defogging, AC works best but avoid direct airflow on the windshield to prevent cracks from temperature shifts. Prioritize hill starts with extra spacing—rear-end collisions are common in snow due to rollbacks.
