Once winter arrives, many parts of the country enter “snow mode.” For several consecutive days, heavy snow has battered the three provinces of Liaoning, Heilongjiang, and Jilin. The meteorological station predicts that from the 20th to the 21st, central to heavy snow will fall in parts of the Ili River Valley, Altay, and areas along the Tianshan Mountains in Xinjiang, with localized blizzards. Although the snow brings picturesque scenery and the joy of an icy wonderland continues to attract tourists, it also causes inconvenience for travel. What should you pay attention to when traveling in snowy weather? What special preparations can be made for your vehicle and shoes?
Drive Slowly and Don’t Rush
When riding a bicycle or electric bike on snowy days, drive at low speed; avoid cycling on tiles that are prone to icing and slipping; never compete with motor vehicles for road space to prevent injury from vehicles that may skid; on roads with thick snow or thin ice, it’s best to get off and walk.
Driving Tips in Snowy Weather
Pay attention to using your lights. In general, visibility is low on snowy days, so proper use of lights is essential. First, turn on fog lights and low beams to help the driver see the road conditions clearly and allow other drivers to see your vehicle clearly. Second, turn on position lights and tail lights so that vehicles in front and behind can see your car’s location and driving status, helping them take corresponding measures.
Maintain a Steady Speed
Roads are slippery in snowy weather. Sudden braking, acceleration, deceleration, or turning—even issues that are normally not problematic—can cause skidding. Therefore, when driving on highways in snowy conditions, maintain a steady speed, hold the steering wheel firmly, and ensure the smoothness of your vehicle. In general, do not overtake.
Keep a Safe Distance from the Vehicle Ahead
Maintaining a sufficient safe distance when driving on highways in snowy weather is crucial. Because roads are slippery, braking distance increases five to six times compared to dry asphalt roads. Also, sudden braking is not advisable in snowy conditions to prevent skidding. Additionally, visibility is low in snowy weather. Regulations stipulate that when visibility is less than 200 meters, maintain a distance of more than 100 meters from the vehicle ahead; when visibility is less than 100 meters, keep more than 50 meters; when visibility is less than 50 meters, exit the highway. The safe distance from the vehicle ahead on snowy highways must consider both visibility and road slipperiness.
Wear Appropriate Colored Glasses
When driving on highways in snowy weather, glare is common. Wearing appropriate colored glasses and taking proper breaks can prevent glare and eye fatigue, helping you better observe road conditions. Keeping a good mood is also important—if you encounter unexpected situations, you’ll be better prepared to handle them safely.
Maintain Proper Cabin Temperature and Functional Wipers
If snow or ice on the windshield cannot be cleared, or if it freezes and frosts, the driver will be unable to see road conditions clearly, making driving unsafe.
Before getting on the highway, try to understand the latest weather conditions and road traffic updates along the way to adjust your itinerary in time. After entering the highway, also pay attention to variable message signs and follow the instructions provided.
If you encounter severe weather such as rain, fog, frost, or snow and ice during the trip, and there is a significant temperature difference between the inside and outside of the vehicle, causing fog on the windshield, never attempt to wipe the fog away with a cloth or towel while driving—such a small action could lead to serious consequences. Instead, use the car’s air conditioning to adjust the interior temperature and eliminate windshield fog to ensure clear visibility.
Avoid Parking in Water-Pooled Areas in Snowy Weather
Due to temperature differences between day and night in snowy weather, cars often ice up after being parked overnight. If you park your car outdoors in snowy weather, avoid parking in areas with standing water, as the water may freeze again at night, bonding the tires to the road surface. Starting the vehicle may deform the tire tread or even tear the tire.
Additionally, when parking outdoors on snowy nights, it’s best not to engage the handbrake. This is because after driving on wet and slippery roads, the brake discs and calipers can retain a lot of water. Engaging the handbrake afterward may cause it to freeze, making it impossible to move the vehicle the next day or damaging the braking system. To prevent the vehicle from moving, for manual transmission vehicles, you can leave it in gear (either forward or reverse), and for automatic transmission vehicles, use the parking gear and place stones or wooden wedges against two diagonally opposite tires.
Shoes Matter When Traveling in Snowy Weather
When going out in heavy snow, your choice of shoes is very important. Falling on snow is partly due to slippery roads and partly due to wearing unsuitable footwear. Experts advise that when walking in icy or snowy weather, avoid wearing hard-soled or smooth-soled shoes; instead, wear anti-slip shoes. Some people have even come up with good anti-slip methods, such as wearing an old pair of socks over their shoes or tying cloth strips or hemp ropes around their shoes, which greatly increases friction between the shoes and the snow, reducing the chance of slipping.
Shoe soles that are too soft or too hard are not ideal. Shoes with deep and numerous groove patterns provide better grip. Anti-slip shoes with many deep grooves ensure that no ice or snow accumulates on the sole, helping to prevent slipping.