Think Ahead Before You Hit the Road in the Winter
By Teresa Ambord
No matter where you live, winter driving can be unpredictable. And in extreme climates, it may be treacherous. Before you hit the road, review safe winter driving procedures. Here are a few tips to help you get there and back safely.
First make sure that your vehicle is winterized so you are less likely to break down on the road. See our other article, Winterize Your Car to Help it Survive Cold Weather.
Emergency Supplies
Next, before you back out of your driveway, make sure you have everything you might need if you were to get stuck. An emergency kit should include flares, matches, a working flashlight, a small shovel, kitty litter or sand, (you can also buy a product like Bear Claws, that are designed to give you traction and can be invaluable when your car is stuck in mud or snow), extra oil and anti-freeze blankets, boots, gloves, bottled water, and some non-perishable high-energy bars. And don’t forget to take your cell phone.
Snow Driving
While you’re still at home, go over the techniques for driving in snow or other winter conditions. They include adjusting your speed to the conditions… that may sound like a no-brainer, but all those people you see on the side of the road thought so too. Remember to brake lightly before you enter a corner. If you skid, turn into it, not away from it, and accelerate slightly and you should be able to regain control of your vehicle.
Make sure you choose snow chains that are easy to install. Then take the time while you’re still at home to practice putting them on and taking them off. This is not something you want to do for the first time on the side of a dark road with snow in your face and other cars passing.
Check your trunk to make sure you have a good spare tire, a jack, and a lug wrench. If you’ve never changed a tire, it’s better to learn in your own garage than in an emergency situation. Of course, a flat tire can happen in any weather, but an annoyance in the summer can become deadly in the winter. It’s not hard to do, but a little practice helps. Remember when you remove the lug nuts, to put them in the hub cap, or some other safe place. They have a way of blending into the ground and a newly installed spare tire is useless without enough lug nuts. Check your owner’s manual to see if you have locking lug nuts. They will require a special tool, and you may not be able to find it in an emergency. You can also visit the following Web site to watch a step-by-step tire changing video.
A common automotive problem that strikes more often in winter is a dead battery. The long hot summer can weaken a battery. If that happens, the sudden change to cold weather may deal it a death blow. Visit the Web site below for step-by-step instructions for jump-starting a car, including a how-to video from Edmunds.com.
Now for the drive. Here are a few things to remember:
- Using headlights during the day, and turn signals all the time may be more important than ever when visibility is bad.
- Obviously, wet roads are slippery, especially during the first rain when the road’s oils rise to the surface. Give other cars extra room.
- The middle lane may be the safest place to drive, since water is more likely to pool on the sides. Those pools may not only cause you to hydro-plane, but they may also be hiding potholes.
- If you have to drive through a puddle, afterwards, tap your brakes to dry out the rotors.
