
Winter Driving: Your Vehicle
Make sure that your vehicle is ready for winter driving. Regular maintenance will help with this, so tune-ups that you have been doing are a step in the right direction. Once winter hits, you want to take a look at your battery, coolant, headlights, tail lights, sensors, breaks, tires, and wipers. These are little things right now, but they will be bigger problems later. It is a good idea to have someone look at the other systems, to ensure there aren’t any other problems that will arise at the most inopportune moments. Using snow tires will mean that you need to have them installed before snow falls. After your car is ready for winter, you will just need to clear out the snow from the driveway and your car. Then, you are ready for the road! You can read more tips here.
Winter Driving: You and The Road
You have to be sure that you are ready for winter driving. This means that you will need to pay more attention and be ready in the event your car starts to swerve. You will want to leave more distance between you and other cars than usual, as well. This is when having good breaks will come in handy. Being alert and ready is as important as knowing when to hit the breaks. Be ready for them to skid a little or take more time to react to your signal. These problems are very common in the cold. Remember that your car will handle differently than you are used to, so it is better to drive a little slower. You will want to give yourself more time to get where you are going, just in case. It is a good idea to be aware of the weather conditions of the roads you will be driving in and plan accordingly. Because this isn’t always possible, you should just try to be as alert as you can be and drive with caution.
Winter Driving: Emergencies
You should make sure that your car is ready if there is an emergency. Winter complications aren’t the only problems you can run into. You are still able to get a flat tire, and your car can still break down. The only difference is that how it is cold outside, and it will make you a little more miserable while you try to figure things out. While you are checking your car for winter preparations, you should make sure that it is emergency ready. Check for your spare tire, jack, and something to remove lug nuts. These are all things that you will need at some time and checking for them now will just make your life a little easier in the long run. Other things you might want to make sure you have are flashlights, blankets, jumper cables, flares and emergency lights. These are always helpful to have, whether you need them yourself or can help someone else.
Winter Driving: Risky Actions
Many people think that they can drive and text at the same time. They tend to think that they are better at it than others or that they are better drivers. However, this isn’t the case in winter driving. This is the worst time for you to take your hand off the wheel and contribute to distraction. You need to be attentive and able to react as quickly as possible. This isn’t something you can do if you are looking at your phone or have it in your hand. Speeding is a bad idea, too. Driving too fast will just make it harder for you to stop. This compounded with cold weather, and possible black ice is a recipe for disaster. You want to be sure that you are adhering to the speed limit or a little slower. This will allow your car to stop better and will help you avoid swerving into an accident. You also don’t want to drink and then drive. While this is a law and something that should be common sense, it is something that gets exponentially more dangerous in the winter.
If winter driving causes an accident for you, you want to make sure that you call the police or 911. If you don’t think it’s necessary, call your insurance company as soon as possible. They will be able to send you help to get your car towed and help you file a claim. When you are done, you should talk to an attorney. There is a good chance that any costs you incur will be covered and you want to make sure that you get the care you need. Accidents happen, but you don’t need to tackle the expenses for something that wasn’t your fault. That is what insurance is for. And while your insurance might help, it might not be enough. That is where an attorney can help. Start your search here.