It’s that time of the year. Temperatures drop, snow falls, ice forms, and things get a little dicey on the roads. It’s winter, and love it or hate it, you need to adjust how you get around. In 2020 the National Transportation Safety Board estimates that there were nearly 120,000 accidents that were caused by unsafe winter driving, and we don’t want you to be one of those. We’re going to give you a few tips on how to deal with winter driving, and we may even sneak in a couple of things you can do to keep your car running its best. Let’s go (but cautiously)!
Slow Down
This may seem obvious, but it’s the best thing and the easiest thing you can do to keep yourself and your passengers safe during wintery conditions. Vehicles are harder to control in snowy or slick conditions and slowing down gives you more control over your vehicle.
Make Room
This comes in part with slowing down, but make sure you give yourself plenty of room (if possible). Taking an extra second to put a little distance between you and other vehicles, will buy you time should you lose control. Take extra care and give extra distance to emergency and winter weather vehicles (like plows and sand trucks).
Take Your Time
Give yourself extra time when traveling in wintery conditions. Taking a little extra time means that you won’t be rushing in subpar road conditions and allows for the fact that traffic is most likely moving slower than normal.
Be Aware
Not only does this mean staying more alert and paying closer attention when driving, but staying updated on conditions in general. Watching the weather and planning ahead can save you headaches (and repair bills) down the road. Pay attention to winter weather advisories and warnings and if all else fails…
Stay Home
One of the biggest winter driving mistakes people make is simply traveling when they don’t need to. If the weather is poor and conditions are bad, simply staying home and avoiding unnecessary travel may be the best thing you can do.
So as an extra added bonus (call it a gift for the holidays) we going to give you a couple of winter tips to keep your vehicle in top shape for the cold weather.
Check Your Tires – Tire inflation pressure drops in cold weather. Be sure to keep tires properly inflated.
Check Your Battery – Cold weather is tough on batteries. Have a mechanic check your battery, electrical system, cords, and belts.
Replace Worn Wipers – Snow and ice are killers for wipers, especially older ones. Fresh wipers will keep you seeing clearly.
Clear Your Lights – Make sure lights aren’t obscured by snow or ice before you head out into the elements.
Pack an Emergency Kit – Stock a kit of winter emergency essentials. Check out our blog from last winter about Winter Car Emergency Kits.
We know that Winter Driving can be a challenge, and we want everyone to get to their destinations safe and sound. But if you do have an accident, we can help. Contact us here, or give us a call at any of our six locations across Central and Eastern Nebraska.