The top 3 biggest causes of driving accidents in winter

If you’ve spent any significant amount of time driving already this winter, you’ll already know how challenging it can be, with tricky conditions like heavy rain, fog, and even black ice all presenting their own risk of accidents. Whether you're commuting to work or planning to hire a car for a seasonal getaway, it always pays to keep yourself up to speed (pardon the pun) with some of the biggest dangers. As you may know if you’ve used us before here at Intack Self Drive, we like to do a lot of the hard work for you – so in that spirit, here are the biggest dangers to watch out for!

Black ice on the roads

Put simply, black ice is one of the single most dangerous conditions you may encounter during winter. It’s a thin, transparent layer of frozen water that drastically reduces the traction your tyres can get on the surface. It gets its suitably ominous moniker because unlike visible snow or slush, black ice is nearly invisible, and it’s notorious for forming on shaded sections of roads or bridges, often without warning. Even at low speeds, this can lead to skids or loss of control, which can sometimes even result in a collision.

Black ice typically forms when temperatures drop below freezing, particularly after rainfall or during the early morning hours when the air is cooler. You might not even realise it’s there until it’s too late, so it’s particularly important to stay alert, especially around shaded areas. As ever, reducing your speed and avoiding sudden braking or sharp steering can help you maintain better control in icy conditions.

Low visibility during snow or fog

Reduced visibility is another one of the most notorious conditions associated with winter weather, and it can make driving ridiculously difficult. Whether it's heavy snow, thick fog, or torrential rain, poor visibility can make it harder to see road signs, other vehicles, or potential hazards on the road. Even headlights, when on full beam, can struggle to cut through dense fog. In fact, the RAC actively discourages it – that’s because the fog reflects the light back, which (coun­te­rin­tu­itively) makes it even harder to see.

So, how do you account for this? Well, ideally it’s helpful to avoid areas with fog altogether, or avoid any unnecessary journeys if you can. If you do absolutely have to travel, make sure to allow for greater stopping distance when visibility is poor, as stopping distances increase considerably. Additionally, regularly clearing snow, ice, or grime from your windscreen, mirrors, and lights will help ensure you're driving with the best possible visibility. (As you might expect, when you hire a car or van from us here at Intack, that’s the kind of thing we take care of on your behalf!)

Slower reaction times from the cold

The cold doesn’t only affect your car or van; it can also affect you. You’ll already know the basics – behind particularly cold behind the wheel can make driving harder for a variety of reasons. For starters, it can make it harder to properly grip the wheel or gearstick, increasing the chances of slipping (and a loss of control as a result, however briefly). What’s more, cold temperatures can cause your muscles and joints to stiffen, especially on longer journeys. This stiffness can lead to slower reaction times, making it more difficult to respond quickly to changes in road conditions, such as having to brake suddenly or steer away from an obstacle.

For that reason alone, staying warm and comfortable in your vehicle is as important as it is pleasant. When you hire a car or van from us here at Intack Self Drive, you can always rest assured that the heating systems will be in excellent condition, but it’s also important to take regular breaks to stretch and ensure you remain alert. Wearing non-restrictive clothing while driving can also help with flexibility and comfort. The warmer you are, the quicker you’ll be able to react to any potential hazards.

Those are our top tips! When it comes right down to it, often staying safe with winter driving comes down to instinct and common sense – if you get the feeling that the way you’re driving could be unsafe, there’s a good chance that it is. Don’t forget that you can always pull over if the conditions appear too treacherous – at the very least, it gives you time to think about how best to proceed, rather than trying to tackle that thorny issue while navigating dangerous conditions. 

And of course, if you ever need a bit of help to get on the roads in the first place, that’s exactly where we can help here at Intack Self Drive. You can always rely on us to give you the very best prices on a comprehensive range of hire vehicles. We have a fleet of more than 450 vehicles to choose from, encompassing cars, vans and minibuses – so whatever type of vehicle you need, you can count on us to have you covered. We offer daily hire and weekly hire options, and if you’re not sure exactly how long you’ll need the car for, we also offer flexi hire to give you maximum freedom and flexibility.

Got questions? No worries. Give us a call on 01254 57811, and we’ll be happy to see how we can help!