Winter Driving Tips

Winter weather can be challenging even for the most experienced drivers. Driving conditions vary from place to place, and you should take care before setting out on your journey. Consider leaving home early enough since you will be driving slower, unlike other seasons, to avoid panicking about arriving late at your destination. Our experts at Eskridge Lexus of Oklahoma City offer several tips to help you navigate through harsh winter weather on the roadways.

Prepare Your Car for Winter Weather

Image via inayali, used with Unsplash License

As a driver, be sure that you service your vehicle regularly and that your tires are in good condition. Check whether your vehicle’s fluids, antifreeze, and windshield wiper fluid levels are adequate. Also, ensure that the windshield wiper fluid level is enough since salty winter roads can increase the necessity to clean your windshield while driving.

You can also opt to equip your vehicle with winter tires because they efficiently maximize grip in minimal temperatures. You should carry water, blankets, food, a flashlight, towing straps, and sturdy boots. These items will help you if you get stuck or stranded during your journey.

Defrost Your Mirrors and Windows

Defrost your mirrors and windows and ventilate the interior by turning your air conditioner to a warm setting. It dehumidifies any mist on the interior, thereby giving you clear visibility. Before leaving your home, check the weather updates for the route you will use for travel. Be careful of ice on the roadway. Shadows can help you be vigilant about places where ice may form. Structures such as billboards, overpasses, trees, and buildings can signify risky surfaces.

Monitor Your Speed and Be Careful on Curves

While driving during the winter in Oklahoma, decreasing your overall speed by half is essential. Maintain a safe distance between you and the vehicle ahead of you to avoid a collision. Unlike dry road surfaces, your vehicle may take up to 10 times longer to come to a stop on icy or snowy roads.

Areas with curves can be dangerous since they could conceal icy spots during winter. Braking on slippery roads may be risky since the centrifugal force draws your vehicle outward from the travel lane.

Avoid Slamming On Your Brakes

What do you do if you lose control in Oklahoma winter weather? Regaining control of your vehicle can be tricky, and you may try to counter-steer or slam on the brakes. Gently remove your foot from the gas pedal to decrease your vehicle’s speed. 

You can regain control by steering toward the skid direction and easing pressure on the accelerator if you lose grip under moderate acceleration. To activate anti-lock brakes in your vehicle, press firmly down on the brake pedal. You will notice some throbbing, but this response is normal. Remember that these brakes won’t work well on ice. The wheels can still lock up.

Activate Your Car’s Snow Mode and Use Your Headlights

Consider activating your Lexus snow mode button. This button is near the gear shift lever, and it enables your vehicle to maximize grip of your vehicle’s tires. Snow mode changes the initial transmission by decreasing torque on the wheels and reducing the brake’s bite; thus, your tires won’t lock up while driving in snow.

Controlling your headlights helps you attain easier visibility and enables other drivers to spot you easily on the road. Using low headlights can be advantageous because higher ones may reduce your visibility. If your visibility decreases, you can switch on the vehicle’s fog lights.

Avoid Flooded Roads and Large Stagnant Water Paddles

Avoid flooded roads and large stagnant water paddles since you cannot estimate their depth. 

Slow down when driving on wet roads. Fast driving can make your tires lose contact with the road surface. Your vehicle’s tires can slide across the slippery road surface, which puts you as the driver at risk of skidding out of control. Ensuring your vehicle’s wheels stay in contact with the road surface is essential, so maintain a safe speed when driving.

Lexus Vehicle Upgrades to Assist You When Navigating Oklahoma Winter Weather

All-wheel drive editions offer extra support in winter weather to facilitate more effortless acceleration and handling. They automatically direct more power to the wheels with excellent traction. All-wheel-drive models are also available across the Lexus lineup. Several Lexus models feature forward collision warning, emergency brakes, adaptive headlights, blind-spot monitors, rear-cross traffic alert, and LED lights.

Other features include:

Lexus Star Safety System

Models with the Star Safety System possess a vehicle stability control system. It controls loss of traction and wheel spillage by decreasing engine power and applying brake pressure onto the wheels. Also, the steering wheel sensors can anticipate a direction change and can steer the vehicle on the right track.

Vehicle Suspension Upgrades and Memory Settings

Based on environmental conditions, the 2022 Lexus IS 300 and 350 all-wheel-drive models provide engine power to the front and rear wheels. An all-new 2022 Lexus IS 500 features suspension upgrades and 19-inch alloys. A new memory recall package is also included for the IS 350 F Sport. The 2022 Lexus LX Multi-Terrain Select system can also monitor the system settings and view obstacles through different camera views.

Active Torque Control and Heated Mirrors

The 2022 Lexus RX 350 also delivers an Active Torque Control, maximizing driving effectiveness by shifting engine power between the front and rear wheels. Lexus RX Hybrid trims have a rear-wheel electronic mode that regulates the loss of friction on surfaces. For 2022, Lexus RX also includes fog lamps in its upgrade. The 2022 Lexus GX trims feature standard heated mirrors and an intuitive parking assist. The 2022 Lexus NX also features a camera-based rearview mirror.

The U.S. Department of Transportation reports that 24% of weather-related accidents occur on snowy or icy surfaces. The above tips can arm you as a driver with the essential knowledge to prepare for winter properly and avoid accidents. These tips can help you improve your overall safety on the roadways during the winter months.