Driving during the winter comes with extra dangers. Fortunately, there are plenty of ways for you to exercise cold weather driving safety. Stay safe with these winter driving tips.
Fill Up Your Tank
Winter is not the time to test your vehicle’s fuel reserves. If you get stuck in a snowstorm or even in bad traffic, a quarter tank might not cut it. Fill up your tank regularly to avoid getting stuck in a dangerous situation.
Slow Down
Even if you have 4-wheel drive and snow tires, watch your speed. Between ice, snow, and inexperienced winter drivers, you’ll want extra distance between you and the car in front of you. A few extra seconds can be the difference between a close call and an accident.
Give Snow Plows Enough Room
Snow plows are big and slow. Give them space. First of all, snowplows have more blind spots than the average vehicle. Chances are, they can’t see you. Second, they stop often and unexpectedly. Third, and perhaps most importantly, they throw up a lot of snow and ice. You can go from 100% visibility to completely blind in a matter of seconds if a plow throws a load of snow onto your windshield.
To Pump or Not to Pump Your Brakes
Back before antilock brake systems (ABS), drivers were told to pump the brakes if they started to slide on ice. However, if your car is equipped with ABS, pumping your brakes will do no good since your car is already capable of doing this on its own far more effectively than you can. So what do you do when you slide across ice?
Step down on the brake pedal, and remember to steer. If you start to feel a rumbling motion in the pedal, don’t panic. It’s just the ABS doing its job. If your car is not equipped with ABS, pump the brakes if you feel the wheel’s lockup.
Even the most experienced and attentive winter drivers can end up in an accident. If you get into an accident, give Cascade Collision a call for a free quote.
