Driving around in the snow, cold and harsh weather can be extremely dangerous for drivers but if you must drive, there are some ways to prepare and some techniques to use to make road travel a bit safer.
AAA gets several calls at a high rate during severe winter weather and they give priority to AAA members who are stranded in their vehicles, so they released some tips about how to prepare for stranding and how to practice defensive driving to avoid these situations.
They advise drivers who get stranded to stay in their cars. If you are able to start the engine, only run is long enough to keep you warm and make sure the exhaust pipe isn't blocked by snow or ice.If you take the proper steps to prepare, you'll reduce the chances of having your car stranded on the road.
AAA advises to:
Check your battery strength. Batteries function 35 percent less as 0 degrees and lower temperatures, so make sure your battery doesn't have problems to begin with.
Keep your car in a garage when not in use or put a tarp over it to block it from strong winds. Place plastic trash bags between the door and the frame to keep the doors form freezing shut.
Make sure your gas tank is at least half-full to keep the fuel line from freezing up and to avoid long lines at the gas station before a storm hits.
Your car should have an emergency kit which includes a cell phone and charger, jumper cables ,warm gear such as boots, hats, gloves, blankets for multiple passengers, flares and flashlight and extra batteries, extra food and water, a general first aid kit, non-clumping kitty litter, an ice scraper, snow brush and shovel, and windshield washer fluid.
Once you've taken the steps to prepare, implement defensive driving strategies. It is especially important to drive with caution when driving in winter weather.
Make sure you take the time to thoroughly remove snow and ice from your car so that it doesn't blow onto your windshield or onto the windshield of other cars. Also make sure your lights and mirrors are clear.
When driving, use your low-beam headlights, even during the daytime. Look out for icy surfaces, especially on bridges and intersections. Just because the rest of the road looks okay doesn't mean there are certain dangerous spots.
Keep your eyes open and look farther ahead in traffic. Seeing what drivers are doing ahead will give you more time to react.When switching lanes, don't cut in front of trucks. They need more time and space to stop.
Don't rely on cruise control during snow and freezing temperatures. Four-wheel drive vehicles may help you move quicker, but they won't stop any faster than regular cars. Make sure to apply constant, firm pressure to the pedal with anti-lock brakes.
This article is copyrighted by Travelers Today, the travel news leader
