Tips for Driving During the Winter

winter driving - commuter traffic

Staying safe on the road is always important for you, your family who may be with you and also for other drivers.  Many winters offer driving challenges such as slippery roads and other instances that can cause accidents. Here are a few tips to help you win the challenge of the wintery roads.

Sleep

It is important to get enough sleep to avoid driving while fatigued. You need the extra focus during the winter months to keep an eye out for hazards like black ice (which can be tricky to spot) or other cars that may lose control. Getting plenty of sleep will also sharpen your reflexes so you can react fast enough to prevent an accident.

Make sure you have enough gas

Consider having at least a half full of tank of gas before driving out during the winter.  If you get stranded , it can be your life saver to keep you warm until help arrives.

Keep your eyes on the road

Don’t let distractions divert your attention from diving. Just keep your focus on the road. Phones are a frequent diversion. Don’t text and drive!  If your kids noise or actions are sidetracking you from driving, it is best to pull over, deal with the situation then move on.

Seat belts

There is a reason why wearing your seat belt (and having your passengers wear them too) is urged so often. Aside from the law which requires us to wear them when driving, seat belts work most of the time. They save lives! Winter months get cold and roads can (1) stay wet longer due to the lack of heat or (2) become icy so having a seat belt on while driving on ice can be a lifesaver.

Properly inflated tires

This is another recommendation that most people know all know but is easily forgotten. We get gas but sometimes we don’t think about our tires.

You should know the information about your tires, such as its size and especially your max PSI (how much air should be in your tires). Having a tire gage will help you know what psi is in your tires. When your tires are inflated properly, they perform better, and it helps them last longer.

Auto Safety Test: Check Your Tires

car on asphalt road on summer day at park

Did You Know?

Tires are one of the most important — and oft-overlooked — components of our cars. Tires are the only thing that attach our cars to the road, and tire problems affect your car’s ride comfort, handling and safety. If they’re near bald and out of balance driving can be dangerous. Here are some simple tire safety tips to help keep you and your car’s occupants safe.

Check your tire pressure regularly.

Tires tend to lose air over time. Buy a digital tire gauge and check your tires once a month and before a long trip. Proper inflation pressures can be found in your owner’s manual or on a sticker on the car (usually on the driver’s doorjamb or fuel-filler lid) Remember to check tire pressure only after the car has been sitting for several hours in order to ensure that the tires are cold — the friction of driving heats the tires and increases pressure, which can hide an under-inflated tire.

Address under-inflated tires immediately.

An under-inflated tire has more rolling resistance, which increases fuel consumption. It also creates more heat, which can lead to tire failure.

Make sure you have good tread on your tires.

Since you are already down beside your tires when you are checking your tire pressure, take that time to look at the tread for signs of damage, bubbles, cracks or baldness (areas that are smoother in one place or another). One easy test is a penny check. Put a penny in the groove of the car tire to see if I can see all of Lincoln’s head. If you can, then it’s time for new tires.

Rotate and balance your tires regularly.

Consider rotating your tires every 5,000 miles which should help your tires to wear even.

Keep your tires aligned properly.

Tires should be aligned on a regular basis, especially if you have hit a curb or two. Tires that are out of alignment can wear unevenly. To check for alignment rest hands lightly on steering wheel while driving, it should stay in a straight line and not drift to the right or left.

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