It is usual to see traffic jam in winter, due to adverse weather, road retentions occur, especially when important dates such as bridges or holidays are approaching. Therefore, it is important that, if you are stuck in a hold, you have a number of factors in mind.
The duration of the jam does not depend on us, but it can be overcome without any problem. In Andy1st driving school we want to advise you to face it without difficulties.
As always, keep the safety distance
We always talk about keeping the distance from the car in front of us. But it is essential to have it in mind. We must keep a sufficient frontal separation so that we can break if we reach the vehicle that precedes us.
Although it seems that no, it is the most important measure in a retention (and in the rest of situations), since to maintain the distance is to maintain security.
Each time we find roads that are drawn the distance of security that we must maintain. But, if not, we can calculate it ourselves. To do this, we must take a fixed point on the track and count two seconds since the vehicle with which we have to keep the distance. Although, if the weather is bad or the road is in poor condition, we must increase the account to three seconds.
Speed
is crucial
When we are approaching the traffic jam, we have to adjust the speed by stopping and accelerating the brake, to gradually increase the intensity on the brake pedal. In this way, drivers who follow us will know that we are facing retention and may also reduce speed.
In addition, with this form we will consume less fuel and avoid that the clutch parts wear prematurely.
Once we are inside the jam, it is essential to use the clutch only when necessary. That is, before stopping and to resume the march. As for the pedal, you have to release it gently, always avoiding stepping on it in an interrupted way.
Another aspect that we should consider in reference to the clutch is that it is not advisable to keep it always pressed with the gear set, because it will cause unnecessary wear on the mechanics.
On the other hand, when we resume the march, although it seems that the retention disappears, we must be careful. We must not accelerate sharply to recover lost time, since the traffic jam may appear later. If we accelerate a little less than the vehicle that precedes us, we will keep the safety distance and dose the number of braking.
Anticipation is a very important resource in traffic jams
In order to anticipate, it is necessary to keep track of several vehicles ahead of us. Thus, reacting on time and avoiding situations of risk or unnecessary detentions will be much easier.
On the other hand, we must not lose sight of the vehicle that precedes us. In addition, you have to check the mirrors regularly to be able to take action if they reach us.
Note: Remember that aggressive behaviors such as abuse of the whistle or abrupt lane changes do not help to dilute the retention. The only thing that is achieved with this behavior is to generate nerves in the rest of the drivers.
General advice
Although we have just explained the most important ones, here are a series of recommendations that we must also take into account to drive correctly in any retention:
- Do not change lanes constantly. If you do it, you will not be able to go faster; otherwise the circulation will be less fluid.
- Do not drive on the shoulder, it can be occupied by damaged or priority vehicles.
- Facilitates the incorporation if another driver wishes to join our lane.
- The proper frontal separation also allows maintaining the distance of safety with the vehicle that follows us.
- If the retention occurs in a tunnel, turn on the emergency lights, turn off the engine and do not get out of the car unless there are imminent hazards such as fire.
