|
Tips For
Winter Driving Safety
Related Topic:
Why You Need Four Winter Tires
Winter Tire Reviews And Ratings For Cars
Winter Tire Reviews And Ratings For Trucks
Winter can be a dangerous time to
drive. Snow, ice, and all sorts of hazardous driving
surfaces await you in winter. But there are some things you
can do to make winter driving safer. Following are some
tips that can.
- Surfaces are more slippery, so
give yourself more room to stop.
- Go slower than usual. Speed
limit signs are for dry pavements, not wet or snowy
conditions.
- Don't' stomp on the brakes.
This increases your chances of skidding. Pump them with
short, even pressure.
- Clear the snow from all
windows, windshield, and back windshield.
- If you have anti-lock breaks,
don't pump them. You should "stomp and steer."
- Never use cruise control in
real snowy or wet conditions.
- Be extra careful before
crossing bridges. Although they may not seem frozen
over, bridges do freeze over quickly.
- Watch out for trucks. They are
heavier than cars and take longer to stop. You cut in
front of them at your own risk!
- Stay 200 feet behind snow plows
and other maintenance vehicles.
- If you own a 4X4 vehicle, don't
think that you can do anything that you want.
Four-by-four vehicles handle better, but they don't let
you stop any faster than a car or van.
- Don't spin your tires if you
get caught in a snowdrift. You'll just dig yourself down
even deeper. Worse, your tires might even explode. You
should rock back and forth. Use first gear and reverse
and NEVER exceed 35mph.
- Tire pressure drops 1 to 2 PSI
in winter. So, check the tire pressure often. Buy a
gauge and keep it with you at all times.
- Check your route ahead of time
to make sure traffic is clear.
- Leave early. Snowy and icy
conditions have caused many to be late for work or
school. Give yourself time to get there.
- Wash your car more often. For
the dirty car people this might be an abhorrent thought,
but cake-on dirt and grime will limit your visibility.
Also, anti-icing treatments on some roads can corrode
your car.
These are just some tips for driving
in winter. Most are just plain-old common sense. But
sometimes we overlook the little things.
Braking a little early is a small
thing, but in winter this small thing can prevent a serious
accident. Have a safe winter driving season.
Related Topic:
Why You Need Four Winter Tires
Winter Tire Reviews And Ratings For Cars
Winter Tire Reviews And Ratings For Trucks |
