Winter is here and that makes driving difficult. Central Auto Care can help keep your vehicle in the best shape possible so it’s easy to handle on the icy winter roads. Let’s talk about some winter weather driving tips to keep you and your passengers safe.
Have an Emergency Kit
Always have an emergency kit in your car, truck, or C/SUV in the event you get stranded in inclement weather. Include necessities such as blankets, nonperishable food, and water in the kit. You should also have a set of chains that fit your tires in the event they are required.
Drive On Good Tires
Speaking of tires, it’s crucial that you only drive on tires that are in excellent condition when the roads are covered in snow and ice. Make sure that your tires have plenty of tread on them and that they are inflated to the recommended PSI all the time.
Keep the Tank Fueled
Never take chances with running out of fuel. Keep your tank fueled to over half a tank at all times. This ensures you have plenty of fuel should you get stuck in bad weather. You may need to turn your vehicle on and off to run the heater occasionally to keep yourself warm.
Don’t Use Cruise Control
Cruise control is a wonderful thing but it can be dangerous if the roads are wet, snowy, or icy. Without your foot on the accelerator, you may not realize that your tires are losing their grip on the road. It isn’t a good idea to use cruise control and winter conditions.
Drive for the Conditions
Always drive for the road conditions. Slow down so your tires can keep their grip on the road if the roads are wet, snowy, or icy. Slow down when you accelerate and decelerate, as well. This helps to keep your tire traction on the road. Always stay far back from the vehicle in front of you to give you plenty of time to stop on slick roads. Try not to brake too hard because your wheels will lose traction. If you are able to avoid applying the brakes at all, this is better.
Know How to Handle the Hills
Take extra care if you have to navigate hills. Normally, you would press down harder on the accelerator when you are getting ready to go up a hill, but if the roads are covered with snow, the only thing that will happen is your wheels will spend. It’s better to increase your speed before you reach the hill and then use that momentum to get to the top of it. Drive down the hill slowly and try to avoid stopping on a hill because this will cause you to lose traction.
Finally, bring your vehicle to Central Auto Care in Okotoks, AB, for a winter inspection so we can service it to make sure it can handle the winter weather throughout the season.