Winter is coming! And no, we’re not talking about cosy sweaters and hot cocoa—unfortunately, it’s the kind of winter that brings the toxic smog blanket. Apologies for bursting your bubble, but the air pollution in the National Capital Region is at an all-time high. In fact, New Delhi was recently crowned the “Most Polluted City in the World”. With the Air Quality Index (AQI) going off the charts and visibility more mystery novel than a clear road, here are some top safe driving tips to survive the thick smog.
Drive cautiously
This is stating the obvious, but, sadly, commonsense is not as common as one would like to believe. With thick smog, maintaining a slow and constant speed will help you give sufficient time to react and slam on the brakes if an object appears in front. It is advisable to keep a check on the speedometer.Â
Do not drive on high beam
With thick smog and poor visibility, the natural reflex is to switch on high-beam headlights. This is a strict no-no. The high beam only enhances the glare and reflects off the smog blinding other drivers. Always use a low beam so that the light does not scatter affecting other people’s visibility and switch on hazard lights so that other drivers can see your vehicle. Use the fog lamps in the car for better illumination. Here’s a cheat code, keep an eye on the roadside reflectors or cat’s eye to guide you.
Avoid distractions
In such challenging driving conditions, one has be to 100 per cent focused on the road. It’s a good idea to switch off the sound system in the car and avoid using the phone unless it is an emergency. If your car has a cruise control function, it’s best to deactivate it for safety purposes.
Keep distance
There is a basic thumbnail — always increase the space between your vehicle and the car in front of you. One can even try and keep a two car distance. With low visibility, it is always wise to keep this gap so that you don’t end up having rear-end collisions.
