Navigate Sweden's challenging winter and adverse weather conditions with confidence. This unit covers essential knowledge for safe driving, including tire regulations, hazard recognition on icy roads, and techniques for handling reduced visibility and skids. Prepare thoroughly for your Category B theory exam and become a safer driver year-round.
Browse all lessons that make up Winter and Adverse Weather Driving. Each lesson focuses on specific topics, learning objectives, and core concepts, helping you build essential knowledge and follow a clear, structured progression toward your study goals in Sweden.
This lesson teaches you how to recognize and adapt to different types of slippery winter surfaces. You will learn about the characteristics of driving in loose snow, packed snow, and on ice, with a special focus on detecting 'black ice' (ishalka), which is transparent and extremely dangerous. The content identifies high-risk areas such as bridges and shaded sections of the road and emphasizes the need for extremely gentle steering, acceleration, and braking inputs.
This lesson details the Swedish laws regarding the use of winter tires. You will learn the mandatory period (December 1st to March 31st) when winter tires are required if winter road conditions exist, and the specific rules governing studded tires (dubbdäck), including dates of use and local prohibitions. The content also explains the functional differences between studded and friction tires and the importance of adequate tread depth for safety on snow and ice.
This lesson covers strategies for driving safely when visibility is compromised. You will learn the correct use of different lighting systems: when to use low beams, high beams (helljus), and how to avoid dazzling other drivers. The lesson also explains the specific regulations for using front and rear fog lights and provides techniques for navigating safely in dense fog or heavy precipitation by reducing speed and using the road edge as a guide.
This lesson provides critical knowledge on how to prevent and manage a skid. You will learn to differentiate between understeer (front-wheel skid) and oversteer (rear-wheel skid) and the correct steering and pedal inputs required to recover control in each case. The importance of looking and steering in the desired direction of travel is a key focus, along with understanding how modern safety systems like ABS and ESP assist the driver.
This lesson reinforces the core safety principle of adapting your driving to the prevailing weather conditions. You will learn why you must significantly reduce speed in heavy rain to avoid aquaplaning, how strong crosswinds can affect vehicle stability, and why reduced visibility in fog necessitates slower speeds and greater following distances. The goal is to instill a proactive approach to risk management whenever the weather is less than ideal.
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In Sweden, the use of winter tires (dubbdäck or friktionsdäck) is legally required during the winter period from December 1st to March 31st when conditions necessitate it. This means you must use them if there is snow, ice, or frost on the road, or if such conditions are expected. The tires must be fitted on all wheels of the vehicle.
Black ice is a thin, transparent layer of ice that can form on roads, making them extremely slippery and difficult to see. You might recognize it by a shiny, glassy appearance on the road surface, especially in shaded areas or after temperatures drop below freezing. If you suspect black ice, reduce your speed immediately, avoid sudden braking or steering, and maintain a larger following distance. Drive as smoothly as possible.
To prevent skids, always drive at an appropriate speed for the conditions, brake and steer gently, and ensure your tires have good grip. If you do skid, remain calm. For a rear-wheel skid, ease off the accelerator and steer gently in the direction you want the car to go. For a front-wheel skid, ease off the accelerator and steer gently; the front wheels should regain grip. Avoid slamming on the brakes.
In heavy rain or fog, visibility is significantly reduced. You must reduce your speed and increase your following distance to allow more time to react. Ensure your headlights are on (dipped beam for fog, or low/high beam as appropriate for rain/darkness). Avoid overtaking if visibility is poor. Listen for other traffic and be prepared to stop.
Yes, it is crucial to use headlights in fog and heavy rain. In fog, you should use dipped beam headlights (or low beam) to improve your own visibility without causing glare. Some modern vehicles have fog lights, which can be used in conjunction with dipped beams. In heavy rain, especially at night or in low light conditions, using dipped beam headlights is essential to see and be seen by other road users.
Failure to use the legally required winter tires during the specified period or when conditions demand can result in a traffic fine (böter) from the police. More importantly, driving with inadequate tires significantly increases the risk of accidents, especially in icy or snowy conditions, putting yourself and others in danger.
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Lessons in Winter and Adverse Weather Driving
See who benefits most from studying Winter and Adverse Weather Driving. This overview explains how the unit supports different learning needs, what level of knowledge is helpful before starting, and how it fits into the overall study path in Sweden.
This unit is crucial for all learner drivers in Sweden preparing for their Category B theory test, especially those new to driving during winter. It's also beneficial for drivers who want to refresh their knowledge on handling adverse weather conditions safely.
See how Swedish Driving Theory B is structured, with key topics, learning objectives, and a step-by-step path for theory preparation in Sweden.
Explore all units and lessons included in this driving theory course.