With Christmas less than a week away, we know a lot of you will be traveling to the family this holiday season. We hope that the weather is clear blue skies but we have a feeling that not everyone is going to get that. The very real reality that December brings winter weather brings the possibility that you might be hitting, rain, snow, ice, etc. and even if you think you’re a pro driving in the winter weather, it is always helpful to refresh yourself on some of these helpful tips we’ve laid out for you!
We understand you might not worried about traveling fifteen minutes to your family’s house but the truth is regardless of how far you might be traveling, the roads could be dangerous. We want to suggest servicing your vehicle if you have not done so yet. Whether you’re traveling down the road or across the country, the winter is just beginning and we are confident that it isn’t going anywhere any time soon. So if you haven’t done so already schedule your service appointment with Carriage Traders now!
Driving Tips:
- Avoid driving while you’re fatigued.
- Never warm up a vehicle in an enclosed area, such as a garage.
- Make certain your tires are properly inflated.
- Keep your gas tank at least half full to avoid gas line freeze-up.
- If possible, avoid using your parking brake in cold, rainy and snowy weather.
- Do not use cruise control when driving on any slippery surface (wet, ice, sand).
- Always look and steer where you want to go.
- Use your seat belt every time you get into your vehicle.
Long-Distance Driving Tips:
- Watch Weather Reports
- Service your vehicle before hitting the road
- Keep at least half a tank at all times
- If you become snow-bound, stay with your vehicle. It provides temporary shelter and makes it easier for rescuers to locate you.
- Tie a brightly colored cloth to the antenna or place a cloth at the top of a rolled up window to signal distress, if needed.
- Make sure the exhaust pipe isn’t clogged with snow, ice or mud if you slide off the road
Tips For Driving In The Snow:
- Accelerate and decelerate slowly. Applying the gas slowly to accelerate is the best method for gaining traction and avoiding skids.
- Drive slowly. Everything takes longer on snow-covered roads. Accelerating, stopping, turning – nothing happens as quickly as on dry pavement. Give yourself time to maneuver by driving slowly.
- The normal dry pavement following distance of three to four seconds should be increased to eight to ten seconds
- Know your brakes. Whether you have antilock brakes or not, the best way to stop is threshold braking.
- Don’t stop if you can avoid it.
- Don’t stop going up a hill. There’s nothing worse than trying to get moving up a hill on an icy road.
- Make it know what kind of driving assistance you have (AAA, Roadside Assistance, etc.)
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