With the winter holidays knocking at the door, many people would be busy planning their road trips with friends and family. Driving during winter, especially through snow-clad roads can be fun but dangerous as well. If you have any such plans make sure an experienced driver drives you through. You may have heard people talking about the safety measures people should take while driving on snow-clad roads; but not all of them are right. Some are true, while some are people’s own perceptions.
People often say a four-wheel drive is the best when driving during the winter, but it is only true if the roads are heavily snow-clad; however, investing in a four-wheel drive would be a good option keeping the safety aspect in mind. So what are the other things you need to consider if you are planning to go on a long drive this winter? Here are some factors that you should consider:
The Right Kind of Tires
In some countries, it is a must to have snow tires; while in Australia you can do with an all-weather treads. However it is mandatory to have the snow chains on when driving a non-AWD vehicle. You need to choose depending upon your destination. If you choose a smaller car and you plan to go Snowy Mountains, we would highly recommend you to rent some snow chains as well. You can rent the snow chains at the Snow Mountains too, thus will incur some delays in your trip while you could of been already enjoying the trip without interruptions. It is also getting slightly more expensive as you approach the snow areas. So it is recommended that you have a talk with the car rental agency about the rates for all the extras you need, in case you need to hire a car with snow chains.
Hiring a 4WD makes things easier. A 4×4 cars are not required to fit the chains in Australian conditions.
Check the Car Condition Thoroughly
This is very important, since a breakdown in the middle of a snow-clad road can give you a tough time. Moreover, driving on snow is very dangerous, so a car that is not in its best condition can lead to severe or fatal accidents. Therefore before hiring a care, here are the things you must check:
- Whether the head and back lights work properly
- Whether the wipers are in good working condition
- The tire conditions
- The weather conditions of the destination you are heading towards
- The 24×7 road side assistance across all the areas you are travelling to
Low Cost Car Rentals offers NRMA services included in each car hire. Check some information from them too: Safer driving in snow.
It is also recommended that you start with a full tank to ensure the car does not stop in the middle of the road.
The Right Kind of Car
Choosing the right kind of car is very important to ensure the safety of your co-passengers. For instance, a car with manual transmission is best for snow covered roads. Again a four-wheel drive is best for mountainous terrain, while if you are driving on a plain road then choosing a car with anti-lock braking system would be the best.
Check more tips in here Snow driving.
Don’t Forget the Extras
Even though travellers are recommended to bring their own extras, they might require hiring some from the car rental agency during the winter. These include ice scrapers, warm driving gloves, snow chains, roof racks, etc. You can bring them along if you already have them.
We also recommend you to check the tips and tricks posted on different forums by other travellers who are more familiar with the area you are traveling to. For those who are planning to go to Kosciuszko National Park in NSW we recommend to check this link Safety tips in Kosciuszko National Park.
Driving during winter can be exciting and fun but only if you have taken the necessary safety measures. Talk to your car rental agency and get going. Here at Low Cost Car Rentals we will have all the arrangements to make your journey safe and enjoyable.