Winter driving can seem obvious -- go slow, be alert, watch out for crazy drivers who've never driven in cold weather before. There are a few other things you should know, too. Protect Your Bubble gives you the top five things to consider while doing winter driving.
1. Slow Down – Drivers should make sure that they drive slowly during wintery conditions. This will allow for plenty of room to stop. Icy patches can be treacherous, but high speeds can often make them very dangerous. Take caution and drive slower than normal, and do not use cruise control when in these conditions.
2. Know Your Brakes – If a stop on ice is needed, the driver should know what type of brakes are on the car. For instance, if the car has standard brakes, the driver should lightly pump the brakes until the car stops. For anti-lock brakes, the driver should not pump the brakes. Instead, simply apply steady pressure on the brake.
3. Lights On – Always keep the headlights on during wintery weather. This will increase the driver’s visibility, as well as make the car visible to other automobiles on the road.
4.Low Gears – Lower gears allow for more control because they enable better traction on the road.
5. What to Do If You Skid – First, take the foot off of the accelerator. If the rear wheels skid, the driver should steer the car in the direction they want the front wheels to go. If the front wheels skid, the driver should shift the gear to “neutral” and not steer the car wheel at first. The vehicle will gain traction. Once it does, steer the car in the appropriate direction and return gear to “drive.”
For more information, visit http://www.prweb.com/releases/2013/1/prweb10335399.htm
