Where did the accident happen? Kilometer posts will help here! When a car accident occurs, the most important thing is…
Winter weather – before I leave the parking space
How to prepare your car in winter
Negative temperatures, icy windows, falling snow - yes, winter is definitely not drivers' favorite season. It's no wonder that after reaching our car in such conditions, we think about getting inside as quickly as possible, starting the engine, turning on the heating and driving. But is it advisable to rush?
The stick has two ends
In recent years, the winter weather has definitely spoiled us. And so much so that when the air temperature drops or snow falls, we may feel very surprised. Who among us hasn't used the sleeves of a jacket or gloves to clear snow from a car? And to remove ice from the windshield, do you use windshield wipers with windshield washer fluid?
In this situation, an ordinary brush becomes a strategic element of our car's equipment scraper. Or its practical two-in-one version. It is best if it is on a long stick, which will allow you to thoroughly remove snow from the roof of the car without getting your clothes wet. The only question is, where did we hide it? This is also an issue worth considering. I choose the option with a trunk. Firstly, it is more difficult to misplace it, secondly, during heavy rainfall, opening the side doors results in snow pouring into the interior of the car.
When faced with the dilemma of whether it is worth clearing snow from the car thoroughly, let's think about what situations we don't like on the road. Certainly, no one will feel safe when snow falls from the roof of the vehicle in front of us or a sheet of ice breaks off. Similarly, when we are surprised by a driver changing lane, who turned on the turn signal but forgot to clear the snow from the headlight lenses. There is one conclusion - we remove snow and ice from every surface of the car.
(photo: My Car)
Whoever lubricates will drive away faster
Removing snow seems like a very simple challenge compared to removing ice. As a preventive measure, it is worth covering the windshield with a special protective mat. This will keep you from scraping the side and rear windows. I speed it up by using it defroster, which, apart from the mentioned brush and scraper, I also hide in the trunk of my car.
And if the car is equipped with central locking, does it still make sense to carry a lock defroster with you? It is definitely worth using it to preventively lubricate exposed mechanical elements, which are exposed to temperature differences in winter, and thus to condensation and re-freezing of water. Electronics can always fail us, and a car with remote door opening should be equipped with at least one traditional lock.
Surely no one forgets to lubricate the rubber door seals with silicone? Anyone who misses this step may waste time and energy on tugging on the doorknob, and may not open it at all.
Lock defroster (photo: Moje Auto)
What can I get a ticket for?
Of course, we can simplify our lives by immediately turning on the engine and setting hot air to the windshield and heating the rear window. But in practice, running the drive unit at idle speed at low ambient temperatures is inefficient. Additionally, we put a lot of strain on the ventilation system elements and expose the glass surfaces to sudden temperature differences. I definitely prefer - also to improve my fitness - to warm up while shoveling snow and scraping windows. Moreover, I am not in danger of receiving a ticket. It all depends on the interpretation of Article 60 of the Act "Traffic rules".
In the cheaper version for PLN 100, I may be guilty of leaving the engine running while parked in a built-up area, and in the more expensive version for PLN 300, I may be guilty of using the vehicle in a way that causes nuisance due to excessive emissions of exhaust gases into the environment or excessive noise. Which is not without significance considering the smog that becomes more pronounced on frosty days. A fine of PLN 100 also applies to the driver who leaves the vehicle when the engine is running.
A perfect example is clearing snow from your car! By the way, police officers approach such offenses liberally and I have not heard of a case of imposing a penalty on this account. It's a different story with a car that hasn't been completely cleared of snow. Due to the threat to road safety, there is a severe penalty of PLN 500!
Do you have your own methods and experiences in these matters? Share them!
