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Tips / Steps you can take to minimize the risks of driving in winter
Filed in: Home and Garden
Tagged with advice, tricks,winter, driving, accidents, risks, snow, icy roads, motorists, roads, dangers, tips, snowing, slick, slippery
Last Modified Nov 07, 2007 at 07:47 PM PST by mturnerViewed 208 time(s)
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Winter driving can be tough on cars and their owners. Yet motorists can survive the hardiest circumstances by taking the steps listed below.
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Tip #1. view
- Batteries function less efficiently in winter. Low temperatures are demanding on autombile engines. As it gets colder the cranking amps a battery produces drops.
- Make sure your battery is adequately charged to avoid having “cold-start” problems.
- Cleaning your terminals can augment your batteries performance.
Tip #2. view
- Always use tires recommended by your car manufacturer.
- Typically, all-season tires with substantial tread should suffice – these tires give up wet and dry tire performance to get enhanced cold-weather mobility. However, moutainous terrain may require snow or studded tires.
- If snow traction is critical, make sure your tires have the "snowflake-on-the-mountain" symbol on the sidewall. This indicates the tire exceeds the snow grip of an industry-standard reference tire during a wheel spin test.
- It is also important to have proper air pressure in your car tires. It is important to keep your tires properly inflated because tires lose roughly 1 pound per square inch or air pressure for every 10-degree Fahrenheit drop in temperature.
- Reduced tire pressure will seriously impact traction in snow and ice.
- It is also important that you use the right type and size of chains on all your tires. Mismatched tire chains may lead to tire traction failure.
- Worn-out snow tires don't match the grip of new all-season tires.
Tip #3. view
- If you can't see, all the driving skill in the world is useless. Clear the gunk off the inside of your windshield. When windows begin to fog, engage the air conditioner and set the system on fresh, not recirculation: Some cars do both automatically when you select the defroster.
- Keep your windshield wipers and defrosters in good condition. In particular, make sure your washer reservoir is filled with anti-freeze washer fluid.
- Always ensure that there is no snow and ice accumulation on windshields, windows, rearview mirrors and headlights.
- Brush snow from the hood and roof before you start out so it doesn't blow up or slide down onto your windshield.
- If your door locks are frozen, you can loosen them up with the flame of a cigarette lighter or a quick squirt of de-icer.
- Never warm your vehicle up in an enclosed space because of carbon monoxide accumulation and risk of fatality due to its poisoning.
Tip #4. view
- Make sure your radiator contains an adequate mixture of water and antifreeze.
Tip #5. view
- Always maintain adequate distance between cars while driving. A thin stratum of water can coat the road with dangerously slippery ice at or just above 32 degrees. Look out for dark patches on the road; these may be covered with 'black ice' that makes the road extremely slippery. Hence, remember stopping distances are twice as long at 32 degrees than they are at zero degree.
- Accelerate, apply brakes and negotiate turns slowly. Pay attention to the road surface. If it looks slippery, it probably is. You never know when you will hit an icy spot.
- If your car has antilock brakes, pump the brakes slowly and gently. If you don't have ABS, first quickly and firmly push the brake pedal until your tires slide. Then release pressure on the pedal until your wheels start rolling. Repeat till you come to a standstill.
- If you start to skid, let up on the gas and the brake, then shift into neutral. If your rear wheels are skidding, turn smoothly in the direction you want to go. If the front wheels are skidding, avoid steering until the car slows enough for the tires to regain traction.
- Avoid spinning your wheels particularly when accelerating from a standstill position, or when stuck or while climbing up a hill.
- Snow tires do offer increased traction with just a bit of wheel spin; but, don’t overdo it.
- Any time visibility is low, turn on your headlights.
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