How to Safely Drive on Ice/Snow in Tallinn, Estonia
In this blog post we turn our attention to a topic that has been the cause of numerous scary moments for many drivers in Estonia - driving on ice/snow.
As the temperature falls, the roads unfortunately turn treacherous due to the formation of ice. This article aims to provide helpful tips to navigate through icy roads confidently and securely.
When the snow is fresh it’s a bit easier to control the car as you have more grip, but as soon as we reach lower temperatures (and maybe it also rained a bit), the road can become pure ice!
Here are some tips to drive on icy roads:
Prepare Your Vehicle: Keep your car in top-notch condition, ensuring tyres have enough tread and are inflated properly. Consider investing in winter tyres or all-season tyres for superior grip. Regularly de-ice and clean your vehicle's windows, mirrors, lights and number plates. Here you can find winter tyres policy in Estonia.
Brake Gradually: Icy roads require a subtle approach when it comes to braking. Swift and sudden braking actions may cause the wheels to lock, leading to a loss of vehicle control. Apply brakes gently; should your wheels lock, quickly release the brakes. And, keep more distance from the other cars, otherwise you might find yourself in a car accident pileup like it happened in Tallinn, learn more about it here. (At least 25 cars were damaged and 11 people injured).
Skid Control: Should your vehicle start to skid, it's crucial to know how to respond. Avoid abrupt steering movements, slowly ease off the accelerator and steer in the direction you want to go.
Drive Slow: High speed can be your worst enemy on icy patches. Reduce your speed below the speed limit as it takes longer to stop on an icy surface. Rushing can lead to skidding, which is dangerous on ice. Sometimes you may want to push hard on the accelerator for fun (BMW owner this is for you… Joking!), but doing this on ice may make you lose control instantly.
Stay Informed: Be aware of upcoming weather and traffic conditions. Utilize traffic and weather apps or tune into local news for live updates. We’ll let you know the weather on our newsletter sent every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. And we’ll also keep you up to date on our social media: Facebook, Instagram.
Emergency Kit: Always keep an emergency kit in your car, which includes items like a blanket, snow shovel, torch, first-aid kit, high-viz vest, snacks, water, and a fully charged mobile phone.
Driving in winter, especially on icy surfaces, calls for additional safety measures and conscious efforts from every driver.
Stay warm, drive safe and take care, Tallinn!
