We may believe that driving an automobile is similar in every season. But we should know that winter and summer offer different pleasures and challenges. The most obvious distinctions between these seasons are the temperature, the roads conditions and the amount of daylight. Indeed, each of these variables can change the driving conditions dramatically. Nevertheless, drivers can also enjoy the road if they respect the limitation of speed limit and the effects of both seasons.
When we are driving in the winter, we often experience limited visibility during precipitation or heavy fog, which requires us to slow down. In case of snow, special equipment such as chains may be needed as well. We also need to make sure that we know how to handle icy or snowy road conditions, because even a small amount of ice on the roads can cause skidding and be hazardous to us and others. Indeed, it’s recommended that we are very careful with accelerating and braking during winter as it can be unpredictable. So, driving in bad winter conditions can be a challenge for even the most competent drivers. Fortunately, when the weather gets worse, more people stay indoors, which makes less traffic for those who have to drive.
It is much easier to drive in the summer, but it still presents a few problems. For instance, a heavy shower or thunderstorm can leave large puddles on the road, which would cause us to hydroplane if we are driving too fast. Summer is also when most road constructions are done, so we must be careful and be aware of directional changes in traffic, detours and of course street closings. We must also beware of blinding sun and take care to use sunglasses or pull down visors.
Because of the absorbent heat in summer, we would use air conditioning to maintain us comfortable. On the other hand, leaving the air conditioning on too long can even cause the car to overheat.