Fall is on the way out—and winter is on its way in. We talked a few months ago about safety tips for fall driving, with the time change. Now here’s your list for winter conditions. Even if you don’t drive in snow this year, this is great for preparing when you do.
With the holidays come parties and parties usually include drinking. Be extra cautious and keep your friends and family safe too. Check out details below.
[FEATURE ARTICLE]
Winter Driving Requires Preparation
Winter driving can present some challenges, no matter the weather. It’s a cold season and weather can fluctuate from sun to wind to rain to snow—sometimes in the same 24-hour period! And that changing weather means unpredictable driving and roadway conditions. Here are some
…show more content…
• ALWAYS wear your seatbelt and ensure children are properly restrained in appropriate seats.
• Keep the gas tank at least half-full to decrease the chances of moisture forming in the gas lines and possibly freezing.
• Check the exhaust system for carbon monoxide leaks, which can be especially dangerous during cold weather driving when windows are closed.
The Car Care Council offers a video covering the top tips. Don’t hesitate to give us a call to do a winter checkup before a trip. No matter where you go and in what conditions you drive this winter, we wish you Happy Holidays and safe travels!
[DID YOU KNOW]
Did You Know?
Be Safe on the Road—Stay Sober
“Don’t drink and drive.” “They’ll see you before you see them.” Amongst the fun and celebration of the holiday season come some sobering messages. No one wants to think they will be involved in a car accident, but December and January are “accident prone” months due to weather and an increase in driving under the influence. In fact, New Year’s Day is generally the second most-deadly day for drivers. Scary
Have you ever been in a car in the winter and your parent yells “Hold on!”. Slipping on black ice is a driver’s worst nightmare. The car could slip off the road, go to the opposite side, spin, flip, roll, or even worse. That would be deadly. The good news is there is something called winter tires and it could save your life. Life saving, winter tires must be required because they make your ride safer, they help create a more relaxing ride, and they are not expensive. Winter tires are a very good idea for winter driving, it will help a lot.
“When it’s 40 below and we get a 40 mile an hour wind you know winter is not far behind.”
Driving in the winter is one of the most common ways people get into accidents. When you drive in the winter, you need to be more cautious because of the slippery and icy roads. When there is a winter storm, you should always drive a little slower than the speed limit; just to be safe. Always wear your seat belt, because sometimes it’s not you that makes the mistakes, it can be other motorist. Some people say that if you have snow tires you are safe. That’s not always true. The weather can be unpredictable.
Keeping your car properly maintained throughout the year is an important aspect to help insure vehicle safety and performance. Proper maintenance is especially important in the winter as cold weather and challenging road conditions offer up unique Colorado winter driving challenges. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) there are a few things you can do to make sure your vehicle is ready for winter travel.
Moreover, winter tires are composed of special compounds to maintain flexibility. Winter tires also have deeper tread depths and unique patterns to traject snow and slush and drive away water. Bridgestone Blizzak is one example of winter tires to consider for your
Before winter arrives with all of its glory, make sure that your home is ready for all the precipitation and severe weather that winter brings with it. Before winter arrives, you need to clean out your gutters, install gutter guards and make sure all vents on your roof are properly sealed.
Get an inspection: When the temperature drops and the snow starts to fall, drop by Superior Imports for a complete vehicle inspection. They'll check your car and make sure that it's ready for the cold weather season.
Because of snow being unpredictable, there is no telling how thick the snow may fall which then creates dangers to those in cars, “Traveling by automobile can become difficult or even impossible due to whiteout conditions and drifting snow. The strong winds and low temperatures accompanying blizzards can combine to create other dangers” (Source #2). For this reason, traveling can be dangerous if the snowfall is severely falling down at a fast rate. As a matter of fact, snow can be harmful for everyone who’s involved which can affect the vehicles and life. In addition to snow being dangerous to travelers, it is also just as dangerous to those who tend to just go outside for a quick walk raising the chances of frostbite and hypothermia, “Frostbite is a severe reaction to cold exposure that can permanently damage its victim. Hypothermia is a condition brought on when the body temperature drops dangerously low, and can be fatal if not caught in time,” (Source #2) As seen above, frostbite is incredibly dangerous to encounter and may leave permanent damage to the defenseless victims of the cold. Snow is not just something to be playing in all the time and spending time out sitting in it because it is “fun” to some, these are only two of many dangerous outcomes that come from being in snow for too long of a time. As can be seen, snow is not all fun and games, it also affects wildlife in many
You are supposed to check the air pressure of your tires when they are cold. Therefore, waiting until you arrive at a service station is a poor rule of thumb because driving more than a mile will heat up the air in your
As a Californian girl, one day I went to Washington for vacations. As I was driving, my car slipped and almost crashed, due to the winter conditions in Washington. It may seem the same to drive during the winter and the summer but it’s really different driving in these two seasons.
Winter driving conditions can create some unique challenges for drivers. Snow, rain, ice, and sleet each have the potential to make winter driving a messy and potentially dangerous experience. Nagle & Associates, PA, is a team of car accident lawyers with seven offices across North Carolina. Here they share three tips to avoid wintertime auto accidents.
One of the worst things for your asphalt pavement is the repeated cycles of freezing and thawing that can occur during the winter. Asphalt contracts and expands as temperatures fluctuate, and as long as no water penetration occurs, your pavement should survive the winter in good shape. However, if there are cracks in the pavement, water
The surprisingly low number of incidents recorded during rainy, snowy and icy weather may reflect increased attention to roadway conditions and lowered expectations by the driver.”
One step to help you transition into winter is be aware for the weather to change like crazy. One day you’ll be wearing jeans, a sweater, and some boots. Then next thing you know, it feels good enough to wear caprese, a t-shirt, and some flip-flops. So you need to make sure you have your winter and summer clothes out at the same time. It would be nice if the weather would just stay the same.
“It must be Winter.” Responded by my roommate without hesitation.“The slushy weather could make the highway slippery which is really dangerous.”