40 Essential Tips for Survival & Enjoyment

Whiteouts. Black Ice. Severe chilly. A winter highway journey alone can undoubtedly include a couple of hazards.

If you are planning to take a winter highway journey solo, you could be further cautious. Snow. Ice. Wind. And typically the right storm: all three directly. It can problem even skilled drivers.

I discovered to drive within the winter. Part of my driver training lessons concerned going to an empty parking zone and deliberately shedding management and studying learn how to regain it.

Learning to drive in winter gave me confidence and a wholesome respect for winter driving situations. I’ve pushed in some fairly unhealthy winter storms. It’s preferable to keep away from such situations however typically that is not potential. That’s why you could be ready.

When I’ve pushed in unhealthy winter storms I’ve observed that lots of the autos that find yourself within the ditch are these with four-wheel drive. Over-confidence can work in opposition to your security when driving in winter. This brings me to crucial tip I’ve for you.

The Most Important Tip: Mother Nature Trumps Technology

My primary tip for a winter highway journey alone is to respect Mother Nature. She’s in command of the situations, you should be in command of your automobile. Don’t rely on know-how to maintain your automobile below management. Four-wheel drive is nice for accelerating in snow however not for slowing down. ABS brakes (anti-lock braking system) are nice for bringing your automobile to a easy, non-skid cease however there nonetheless must be sufficient highway between you and the subsequent automobile to cease you in time. You must drive with management of your automobile always.

We’ll get into how to remain in management beneath.

Winter Road Trip Planning

If you drive in snowy climate frequently a lot of the following pointers will probably be acquainted however there is no hurt in reiterating them right here.

1. Check the climate forecast. It’s so apparent however so essential. Even if you cannot change your journey plans by a day or two, altering your driving schedule by an hour or two may make a really massive distinction to your security and delight.
2. Set an inexpensive tempo. In summer time, with clear roads, chances are you’ll plan for lengthy days of driving. Plan for shorter driving days in winter for 2 causes: 1) there are fewer hours of daylight within the winter and a pair of) winter driving may be extra tiring. Also, a 6-hour day on the highway in winter can put you into a complete new climate system. Set cheap expectations.
3. Set a schedule you’ll be able to take pleasure in. If it is a highway journey masking a number of cities, I’ve discovered that I want at the very least three nights per vacation spot. This offers me a journey day and two full days on the vacation spot adopted by one other journey day. Taking a winter highway journey alone means you could go on the tempo that fits you finest.
4. Plan arrivals and departures across the visitors. If main cities are in your route, plan to depart and arrive earlier than or after the morning and afternoon rush hours. Navigating a brand new metropolis may be traumatic sufficient with out including further visitors and the potential for unhealthy climate.
5. Plan round a theme. Is it household you are visiting? Are you testing a couple of ski resorts? Are there winter festivals you need to attend? Will your journey embody a mixture of themes? Knowing what you need to get out of your winter highway journey will actually enable you to focus and revel in it.

Winter Road Trip Essentials to Pack

1. Really good sun shades. A vibrant sunny day is made brighter when the solar bounces off the snow. Make certain you might have good high quality sun shades with you.
2. Mobile cellphone and charger for the automobile. You’ll want a transportable moveable charger that plugs right into a USB port or what was as soon as, and now hardly ever is, a cigarette lighter. In case of emergency you do not need your cellphone to expire of energy.
3. Map and GPS. I believe it is essential to have each a paper map and a GPS when setting out on a winter highway journey. The latter is nice for many circumstances however ought to the GPS maps be outdated or ought to it have bother accessing the satellite tv for pc, you may nonetheless must know the place you are going and that may require a paper map. Plus, the map along with your route highlighted makes a terrific memento of the journey.
4. Extra windshield washer fluid. Top up your windshield washer reservoir earlier than leaving and have an additional bottle with you. If you hit sleet or a storm of any sort you’ll be able to undergo it in a short time.
5. Have an ice scraper helpful. A bank card works in a pinch but it surely’s a gradual course of. Invest a couple of {dollars} and purchase a good ice scraper.
6. Jumper cables. It’s straightforward to wear down a automobile battery in winter. Leave an inside gentle on in a single day and your automobile might be lifeless within the morning. If you might have jumper cables with you all you want are the directions and one other automobile to present you a lift and you will be good to go. Remember to present your automobile a great future to recharge the battery earlier than turning it off once more.
7. Emergency automobile equipment. The highway journey equipment from AAA has booster cables, flashlight, air compressor, and a primary support equipment.
8. Winter survival equipment. You should buy these at many {hardware} shops. It ought to embody water and some meals gadgets along with flares and the like. Here’s a winter survival equipment on Amazon.
9. Sand or kitty litter. Going someplace the place the snow will probably be an actual problem? Pack a bag of sand or kitty litter to place below your energy wheels to enable you to out of a slippery spot.

Preparing Your Car for a Winter Road Trip

1. Take your automobile in for a winter tune-up. You’ll want to inform your mechanic that you are going on a winter highway journey alone and to pay particular consideration to the:
   • heater, defroster, brakes, lights, oil ranges, and exhaust system.
   • situation of the tires. Decide if all-season tires are adequate in your deliberate route or whether or not you want correct winter tires. For some journeys within the mountains, tire chains could also be really useful however take note of native suggestions on this. Chains are exhausting on roads and they’re usually prohibited.
   • high quality of your windshield wipers. This is essential as worn out wipers will smear ice in your windshield slightly than clear it off.
   • anti-freeze within the radiator. A automobile touring in winter cannot survive with out anti-freeze within the radiator.
2. Get roadside help. If you might have AAA or CAA you may be wonderful in North America. If you don’t, you’ll be able to purchase brief or long-term roadside help from Allstate.
3. Winter tires are a should. If you are going into snow nation, you may want winter tires. Sometimes, you may want chains as nicely. Know upfront the very best tires for the situations by which you may be driving

22 Winter Driving Tips

1. Slow down. It’s not a superb tip however crucial to say. When the roads have snow, ice, slush–or worse, black ice–on them, your automobile will take longer to gradual and cease than on clear roads. You might want to drive extra slowly in winter situations than at different occasions of the 12 months.
2. Be ready for black ice. Black ice can type in two methods: when there’s a very gentle rain and the temperature drops rapidly to freezing or when the temperature is just under freezing and the solar melts snow on the highway then freezes when the solar goes down. In each instances, pavement that was moist however clear abruptly develops a layer of clear ice. When you hit a patch of black ice with one tire whereas the opposite nonetheless has traction, you may be despatched right into a spin. Drive below management for the situations.
3. Know the climate forecast. Know what you are moving into by checking the climate forecast. Snow may be dealt with but it surely’s essential that you just keep away from whiteout or black ice situations. If there’s a name for snow, test with a neighborhood about your route selection. There is a highway north of Toronto that always goes to whiteout situations rapidly as a result of wind blowing snow over clear fields. Routes close by should not affected in the identical manner and are safer to drive.
4. Fill up usually. Don’t let your fuel gauge drop a lot beneath half a tank on a solo winter highway journey. I do know, this implies extra stops for fuel however must you break down, you may be glad of the gas to maintain your automobile and its heater going.
5. Always clear the ice off your home windows fully. There’s much less room for error whenever you drive in winter situations. Don’t compromise your visibility by not fully clearing the ice off your home windows. It could also be chilly. The ice could also be thick. But it is price taking the time to do a great job.
6. Clean the snow off your automobile fully. Some individuals suppose that they should clear off simply sufficient snow in order that they’ll see correctly. Wrong! Clear the snow off your hood in order that it does not blow up onto your windshield and blind you. And clear the snow off your roof in order that it does not blow off your automobile and blind the individual within the automobile behind you.
7. Stay in your lane. If there’s plenty of snow on the highway will probably be troublesome to see the lane markings on a freeway and to cross safely. It’s finest to remain in your lane and observe the automobile forward with sufficient distance so that you could cease safely ought to you could. The rule of thumb is that in poor driving situations there needs to be 4-6 seconds between you and the automobile in entrance of you. Think 4-6 automobile lengths.
8. Know learn how to cease within the snow. There are two primary strategies to decelerate and cease and the one it is best to use is dependent upon your automobile. If you might have ABS brakes (traction management) and you must brake in slippery situations, push exhausting on the pedal and go away your foot there till you cease. You’ll discover a vibration and noise because the system does the be just right for you. If you do not have ABS brakes, you may must pump the brakes to maintain your automobile transferring in a straight line. Here’s a video on how that works.
9. Turn off traction management when crucial. Traction management is nice in most situations however when you’re at a lifeless cease and caught in snow it’s your enemy. Turn the traction management off briefly whilst you get transferring. Watch this video.

10. Rock, do not spin. If you get caught in snow, do not spin your wheels. Doing so will create an ice slick beneath your tires and make it inconceivable to get out. Press the fuel then take away your foot. Repeat a couple of occasions till you get a rocking movement going along with your automobile after which sufficient momentum to maneuver ahead.
11. Keep your lights on. On your solo winter highway journey, all the time have your lights on so that you’re extra seen from the entrance and from behind. Visibility helps forestall accidents brought on by others.
12. Clean your lights. When you cease for fuel, clear off your entrance and back lights. They could have develop into lined in snow and slush as you traveled.
13. Use low beams in storms. If you are driving in a snow storm, solely use your low beams. You could also be tempted to show in your excessive beams as a result of intuition says it is possible for you to to see higher however, actually, excessive beams will trigger a mirrored image off the snowflakes and make visibility harder.
14. Never cross a snowplow. If you get caught behind a snowplow, be affected person and keep there. There’s no benefit to passing and, on condition that they’re pushing snow out of the best way, it may be very harmful.
15. Be cautious on bridges. Be particularly conscious of ice on bridges which are typically cooler than common roads and might have extra ice on them.
16. Don’t use cruise management. You want whole management of your automobile so do not flip it over to know-how when the roads should not clear.
17. Don’t drive along with your jacket within the again seat. It’s tempting to shed your jacket in a heat automobile to be snug however ought to you might have an accident or one other incident that cuts the warmth and prevents you from attending to your jacket simply, you may be glad you stored it on.
18. Pull over safely. If the climate will get actually unhealthy, discover a protected place to tug over, reminiscent of a parking zone. Do not pull over on the shoulder of a freeway as individuals could lose sight of the lanes in unhealthy situations and never see you till the final minute. You don’t need to be hit.
19. Take a break. Driving in difficult situations, particularly on a winter highway journey alone is extra tiring than the standard highway journey. Know how far it’s to the subsequent place you’ll be able to pull over for a heat drink. Plan to take frequent breaks alongside the best way.
20. Kick the snow off your boots. There are two causes for this. Snow caught on the underside of your boots offers you much less management over the automobile pedals. Also, the much less snow in your automobile, the much less melted water there will probably be, and the much less vapor to fog your home windows.
21. Don’t put on cumbersome boots. You need to have a great sense of the pedals beneath your ft so put on footwear that’s heat and means that you can really feel the pedals.
22. Go guide if potential. Finally, a guide transmission is preferable in winter. It gives far more management. If you might have the choice of driving stick, achieve this.

A winter highway journey alone may be fabulous. Take care and have enjoyable! Here is one thing so as to add to your enjoyment: 50 Road Trip Songs: The Ultimate Solo Playlist.

Looking for some extra inspiration? Have a have a look at our Road Trip Tips and Itineraries for Solo Travelers, together with tales from readers. Have you loved a solo winter highway journey? Consider submitting a Solo Travel Destination submit to share your story.

Do you might have questions for different solo vacationers? Join us in our dialogue discussion board to join along with your solo journey neighborhood.

If you are planning a highway journey in hotter climate, learn A Road Trip Alone: Top 10 Tips to Prepare.

Last up to date: fifteenth November, 2022