Our top 10 tips for driving in the snow

Posted 23 April, 2019 Lauren Ferrone

Forget a white winter in New York. You can see snow right here in Australia, but if you’re driving there, there are a few things you should know first.   We’ve put together a list of tips to follow next time you’re driving in alpine areas, whether it’s Mt Hotham or Mt Buller.   1. A good pair of sunnies can come in handy rain, hail or shine or, in this case, snow. Sunglasses can reflect the sun’s glare off the snow, making it easier to see the road. (Not so) fun fact: Overexposure to the sun’s UV rays can cause a condition called snow blindness, which can cause temporary vision loss.   2. To protect your windscreen wiper blades when parked, lift the wipers off your windscreen, or place them in a plastic bag so they won’t stick to the glass.   3. At night, only use low beam lights – high beams don’t work in misty areas. If you can’t see, pull over, put on your hazard lights and keep your engine running to keep the car warm.   4. Can fuel freeze? It can, but the temperature needs to be extremely cold, usually about -60C. Nevertheless, if you’re travelling in sub-zero temperatures and your vehicle is a diesel, it must be fuelled with alpine diesel fuel – a form of fuel that’s resistant to freezing. Ordinary diesel fuel turns to wax at around -6C, which means your vehicle won’t start until the diesel fuel thaws.   5. If you want to offset the risk of your washer fluid freezing, a lot of the auto accessory retailers do have windscreen washer bottle additives that can help with de-icing and cleaning the windscreen. Modern coolants used in today’s vehicle cooling systems and radiators are required to have anti-freeze qualities to prevent freezing. If unsure, or if your coolant has not been changed in a very long time, you may want to follow up with your repairer as to what type coolant they have used in your vehicle.   6. Reverse into car parks. Poor vision makes reversing out of car parks dangerous, particularly in thick snow.