Things to watch out for when driving in Hokkaido in winter: A local's detailed advice! Hokkaido Lab ~A comprehensive travel guide to enjoy Hokkaido's gourmet food, nature, and culture~

What to watch out for when driving in Hokkaido in winter: A local's detailed advice!

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: Last updated: September 11, 2018

Table of contents

1. When driving in Hokkaido during winter, be careful of these things!

winter road Once mid-October arrives, a major topic of conversation among Hokkaido residents becomes, "When should I change my tires?"

Hokkaido winters are harsh; it snows, and temperatures are below freezing. That's why cars are essential for getting around. In Hokkaido, it's common sense to drive even to a convenience store 300 meters away. But in such conditions, you might be wondering, what kind of driving should I keep in mind?

This time, we will explain the differences between driving in Hokkaido and driving on Honshu. We hope this will be helpful for those who want to travel around Hokkaido by car (rental car) in winter.

<Contents>
1. When driving in Hokkaido during winter, be careful of these things!
2. Places that are easy to drive in, and places that are difficult to drive in.
3. Advice from drivers in Hokkaido
Afterword

1. When driving in Hokkaido during winter, be careful of these things!

Things to avoid when driving in Hokkaido during winter:Five "urgent"Avoid it.Sudden braking, sudden steering, sudden starting, sudden acceleration,AndThe act of rushing itselfAll of these things cause the car to lose its balance.

winter sidewalks Image provided by: Namara Hokkaido Dabesa

A slip can lead to a spin, and then to an accident. Also, don't underestimate the snow on the shoulder of the road. It's a tough patch that melts and freezes repeatedly, causing serious damage to your vehicle. Experienced drivers know how to handle it, but even they can't predict everything, so drive with extreme caution.

Among these, the following two dangerous phenomena require special attention!

Winter danger 1: Black ice

winter road Among several challengesBlack iceThis is definitely the most dangerous. Black ice refers to a type of ice (i.e., a road that is frozen) that is not immediately recognizable. Compared to the past, tire performance has improved, and if you are aware of its presence, there are ways to deal with it, but its characteristic is that it is difficult to distinguish from normal road surface.

What might appear to be just a wet road surface is actually covered in ice. This is the cause of many accidents in Sapporo and other areas during December, before heavy snowfall begins.
winter road Since braking may not bring the vehicle to a stop, it is necessary to take precautions such as not speeding, maintaining a sufficient distance between vehicles, keeping a safe distance when stopped at traffic lights, and using sufficient creeping when starting off.

And then there's the road conditions and the outside temperature.If it drops below minus 3°CPlease assume that black ice is definitely present.

Winter danger phenomenon 2: Whiteout

Another scary thing isWhite out.

Snow caused by typhoon-level low-pressure systems that rapidly develop over the Sea of Okhotsk and the Pacific Ocean, as well as blizzards brought by seasonal winds over the Sea of Japan,A phenomenon where you can't see anything in front of you at all.However, once it happens, it becomes impossible to tell where the road is. Also, you can't see oncoming traffic.

If you encounter this situation, you should give up on going out in your car. A large snowdrift can form in just one hour, making it extremely dangerous as you could become trapped and unable to move.

White out It will gradually become less visible from now on...