The holiday season usually comes with a lot of driving around. Mix a potent blend of merrymaking and alcohol, and add that to wintery roads, and it could quite easily spell disaster. It takes experience and know-how to travel along icy or snowy roads correctly. Listed below are some tips from a Ford dealer near Louisville, KY, to help you prepare yourself and your car for wintertime driving.
- Prepare Yourself
Driving in the winter requires a little more caution than driving in other weather conditions. Patience is imperative when you are driving on an icy road. Be vigilant at all times but stay calm.
Winter conditions aren’t just about snow or ice. It could be falling trees and even avalanches. Always check the weather forecast before you leave so that you know if it’s safe to be out. The last thing you want is to get caught in a snowstorm or snowed under a tree.
- Get your Car Checks done
Think of your car like it’s your chariot of safety. It will be able to keep you and your loved ones safe from the elements, provided you keep it running smoothly. There are plenty of articles online that can teach you how to perform maintenance checks and replace certain parts.
If you’d instead let a professional handle the maintenance work, remember to ask the mechanic to check everything, especially the car’s tires, tire pressure, battery, belts, hoses, radiator, oil, headlights, taillights, brakes, heater, wipers, exhaust, and engine. It might cost you more, but at least you’ll know that your car is operating at an optimum.
- Pack a Safety Kit and keep it in your Car
A safety kit is a bag that holds several items that will help you out if you find yourself stuck on the road for any reason. Make sure you have an ice scraper and a shovel. Ice scrapers are handy for cleaning off your windshield, and shovels are a godsend when you need to dig your rear tires out of a snowbank. Keep clean, warm clothes and thick blankets in the pack as well. First aid kits, phone chargers, jumper cables, and a small but serviceable tool kit should always be in your car regardless of the weather. Keep sand or kitty litter in your vehicle. They’ll help your tires find traction if you find yourself stuck. Flashlights, water, snacks, and emergency flares are also a must.
- Respond the Right Way
Let’s say you find yourself in a bad situation, and your tires begin to skid on icy roads. Stay calm. Turn into the skid because this prevents your wheels from locking up. Keep your eyes on where you want to go, not where you’re skidding into. This trick increases the chances of you steering away from danger.
When braking on icy roads, remember to depress your brakes early and pump them intermittently. Holding them down might cause you to skid or prove utterly ineffective in slowing you down.
So there you go! Four simple tips to help you survive driving during winter. Check out Jim O’neal Ford for more helpful tips.
