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Helpful Tips

Some helpful safety tips

While you’re on the road
Once you’ve left the house or work, follow this advice to be a safer winter driver:

• Do not use cruise control when driving on any slippery surface, whether it’s snow, ice, excess water or sand that’s making it slippery.
• Accelerate slowly so your tires get a chance to grip the road when the surface is slick.
• Decelerate slowly because it will take you longer to slow down, and hitting the brakes is a good way to go into a skid on winter roads. You know the stoplight is ahead of you. Anticipate it.
• That said, be extra careful of other drivers who might hit their brakes hard. Keep your distance just in case.
• Drive slowly. (Are you picking up on the “slowly” theme here?) Yes, accelerate and decelerate slowly, but also take your turns with care, and be more deliberate and cautious.
• Take it slow and steady when going uphill, rather than trying to power up the hill. Otherwise, you might set your wheels spinning. Build some inertia on the flat before you get to the hill instead. You want to start your descent slowly too. This will help.
• AAA says to brake by keeping the heel of your foot on the floor and using the ball of your foot to apply firm, steady pressure on the brake pedal.
• Try not to come to a complete stop. It’s harder to get going again when roads are slick. This is particularly true on hills, so if you’re going uphill, keep on going even if you have to crawl along to avoid stopping.

If you get stuck
If you get stuck, you’ll be glad you packed emergency supplies in your car! But also follow this advice:

• Stay with your car. It’s your shelter from the storm, and it’s easier for rescuers to spot because it’s bigger.
• Walking away from your car in a storm can mean losing sight of it. Don’t do it.
• Don’t over exert yourself trying to push or dig your car out of the snow. A little effort is okay, but save your strength.
• If you need rescuing, tie a brightly colored cloth to your antenna during the day. At night, keep your dome light on if possible.
• If you have to, run the engine and heater just long enough to remove the chill but try to conserve gasoline. Also make sure the exhaust pipe isn’t clogged with snow or ice because that could cause carbon monoxide to get into the car when the engine is running.

However, the absolute best advice for driving in winter weather is to stay home. Despite all of your precautions, you’re at the mercy of the weather and the other drivers, who might not be as cautious or prepared as you are. Wouldn’t you rather stay in, wait out the storm, and avoid the worry altogether?