Here in South Texas, our winters are mild compared to other places in the United States. However, we still do experience a drop in temperature and at times, even freezing conditions. Although these weather patterns may be rare, we must all evaluate our actions if the situation occurs.
Driving Myth #1
The first piece of advice you may hear about driving in cold weather is to “let your vehicle warm up.” Now while it may be nice to get into a warm car as opposed to one that’s icy cold, it really provides no benefit to your vehicle. Some believe a cold start or driving with the car still cold may damage the engine and moving parts. There is simply no evidence to back up this theory. You’re simply burning more fuel and costing yourself more out of pocket expenses. However, you may deem those negatives actually worth it depending on how cold it actually is outside.
The myth of “warming up” your car in cold weather is a common one. Many people believe that starting a cold engine and driving immediately will damage it, leading them to idle their car for a few minutes before hitting the road. They worry about the wear and tear on the engine and moving parts when they’re cold. However, this worry is unfounded. Modern cars are built to handle cold starts without any problems. The engine oil circulates quickly and reaches operating temperature very efficiently. Idling your car for an extended period doesn’t actually help the engine and only wastes fuel.
In fact, idling your car for a few minutes before driving is simply burning more fuel and costing you money. While it might be nice to get into a warm car, the financial cost of warming it up outweighs any perceived benefit to the engine.
So, there’s no need to let your car idle for an extended period in cold weather. You can start driving as soon as it’s safe to do so, and your engine will be just fine. Of course, if you’re in a particularly extreme cold climate, you might decide that the comfort of a warm car is worth the extra fuel consumption. But for most people, there’s no need to worry about damaging your engine by driving a cold car.
Driving Myth #2
The second driving myth in cold weather is that your parking brake should be used to help your vehicle stop. This is a lesser-known myth and that’s a good thing. By using your parking brake in icy conditions you’re actually negating your anti-lock braking system and that could be dangerous. Most vehicles on today’s roads are equipped with anti-lock brakes and for good reason. Anti-lock brakes are a much safer alternative to the old brakes that used to come on our vehicles. By using the parking brake you’re canceling out the anti-lock brake mechanism. Also, the parking brake is more likely to freeze in the event of very cold weather. So if you need to suddenly make an emergency stop and use the parking brake, there is a chance it will fail and you will not be able to stop your vehicle in time.
Again, extremely cold weather is very uncommon in Texas. However, if you’re traveling up north for the holidays and have to do any driving at all, it’s good to keep in mind there are a few myths out there about driving in cold weather.
The myth about using your parking brake to help stop your car in icy conditions is a dangerous one. Many people think that engaging the parking brake while driving, especially on slippery surfaces, can help them stop faster. However, this is not true, and it can actually put you at risk.
Modern cars are equipped with anti-lock brakes (ABS) for a reason. ABS is a safety feature designed to help you maintain control of your vehicle while braking on slippery surfaces by preventing your wheels from locking up. This is crucial for maintaining steering and stability, as locked wheels can cause a car to skid uncontrollably.
Using your parking brake while driving can interfere with your ABS system. This means that your ABS won’t be able to do its job effectively, increasing your risk of skidding and losing control. It’s like trying to use two different braking systems at the same time, which can create confusion and make it harder to stop safely.
Another danger of using the parking brake in cold weather is that it can freeze up. If you need to make an emergency stop and rely on your parking brake, it might fail to engage, leaving you unable to stop your vehicle in time. This is a serious risk, especially in icy conditions where stopping distances are already longer.
So, while it might seem like using your parking brake could help you stop faster in icy conditions, it’s actually a dangerous practice. The best way to stop safely in icy conditions is to rely on your ABS system and use your regular brakes. Don’t try to “help” your car stop in ways that could actually make things worse.
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With over 100 years of combined experience among the legal team of Herrman & Herrman, P.L.L.C., our Texas personal injury attorneys have successfully resolved over 20,000 cases. When representing injured Texas residents, we fight for justice against wrongdoing and aggressively pursue the best resolution to complex personal injury claims.
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