GENERAL WINTER DRIVING TIPS:
• Do not use cruise control when driving on any slippery surfaces (wet, ice, sand). It gives you a faults sense of security and can decrease your reaction time in a skid or when having to break to avoid hazards.
• If possible, avoid using your parking brake in cold, rainy and snowy weather. Apparently it could freeze in the locked position.
• Always look and steer where you want to go. (This is not as stupid as it may originally sound! When on ice it’s a great tip.)
• Keep your gas tank as full as possible. You don’t want to get caught in a three hour traffic jam with only ¼ tank left.
• Clear your windows of all ice and snow before driving away and if your windows are fogged up, defrost first. (Rolling down your windows half way to clear snow does not count! And, clearing a round patches the size of your head isn’t safe either.)
IN SNOW:
• Accelerate and decelerate slowly. Applying the gas slowly to accelerate is the best method for regaining traction and to avoid skids.
• Drive slowly. Everything takes longer on snow-covered roads. Accelerating, stopping, and turning – nothing happens as quickly as on dry pavement. Give yourself time to maneuver by driving slowly.
• The normal dry pavement following distance of three to four seconds should be increased to eight to ten seconds. This increased margin of safety will provide the longer distance needed if you have to stop.
• Know your brakes! Whether you have antilock brakes or not, the best way to stop is threshold braking. Keep the heel of your foot on the floor and use the ball of your foot to apply firm, steady pressure on the brake pedal.
• Don’t stop if you can avoid it. There’s a big difference in the amount of inertia it takes to start moving from a full stop versus how much it takes to get moving while still rolling. If you can slow down enough to keep rolling until a traffic light changes, do it.
• Don’t power up hills. Applying extra gas on snow-covered roads just starts the wheels spinning. Try to get a little inertia going before you reach the hill and let that inertia carry you to the top. As you reach the crest of the hill reduce your speed and proceed downhill as slow as possible.
• Don’t stop going up a hill. There’s nothing worse than trying to get moving up a hill on icy roads. Get some inertia going on a flat roadway before you take on the hill.
For more information and tips from AAA go to: http://exchange.aaa.com/safety/roadway-safety/winter-driving-tips/
