[Tips for driving on snowy roads] Winter driving, be careful of this!

No matter how rushed you are, it is an iron rule to completely brush off the snow from your car before driving.
In particular, remove snow from the headlights, taillights, turn signals, etc. on the front, back, left, and right sides of the car so that you can communicate your existence and intentions to those around you. Snow on the roof can slide down on the windshield while driving, blocking the view.
You will also need a snow brush to remove snow.
If you want to rent a car, check with the store to see if it is available, or if not, purchase it at a nearby hardware store.
Set the departure time to assume that the snow will fall!

Naturally, when snow accumulates, road signs such as center lines and stop lines become invisible.
Even locals are worried about the beginning of snow accumulation, so travelers who are not used to driving on snowy roads will feel even more uneasy.
The important thing here is to “express your intention” as soon as possible.
“Expression of intention” means to convey the intention such as “stop” or “turn” such as brakes and blinkers as soon as possible.
At the same time, you need to apply the brakes early and early.
Sudden braking, sudden steering, sudden acceleration, and other “sudden” driving operations are out of the question.
This can cause slippage and make the car lose control, so especially when turning the steering wheel, slow down firmly in front of you, keep in mind that the distance between vehicles is more than twice as much as in summer, and drive with an antenna on the following vehicles and surrounding conditions.

In urban areas where snow removal locations are limited, snowy mountains due to snow discharge piled high on both sides of the road often appear.
It will make the view of intersections and other places extremely poor, and the presence of pedestrians as well as oncoming vehicles will be more difficult to see.
The stop line on the road markings will not be visible due to snow, so pay attention to the signs, drive slowly, and thoroughly check the safety of the left and right.
Two lanes often become one lane in snowy mountains.
Driving in snowy countries always requires the spirit of “giving in”.

Snow removal work on major roads is generally carried out from midnight to early morning so as not to affect commuting to work and school.
Immediately after the time when this snow plow is activated, the snow on the road surface has just been removed, and it is often smooth and frozen, so you need to be more careful when driving after snow removal.
When you see a snowplow, keep a safe distance and follow the instructions of the guide.

In areas with snow, road markings may not be visible, and there are markers to know road boundaries and lanes.
The downward arrow sign of the red and white striped horse, called “arrow feather”, prevents deviation from the road and supports safe driving by driving with awareness of the area pointed by the arrow blade even if the view is blocked by a snowstorm.
There are also reflective materials and light-emitting types, and they are designed to be easy to check at night and in bad weather, making them indispensable not only for drivers but also for snow removal work.

What did you think?
While driving in Hokkaido in winter is an encounter with a pure white silver world, it is also true that those who are not used to driving on snowy roads need to be extremely careful.
Just keeping in mind the points unique to winter roads, such as the slippery road surface after snow removal and the poor visibility hidden in the snowy mountains, introduced in this article, will give you a much greater sense of security.
Please have a spirit of “giving in”, keep in mind safe driving, and enjoy the special drive unique to Hokkaido to your heart’s content!