With freezing weather and rain in the forecast, you can expect ice on the roads. The number one recommendation is to stay off the road during icy conditions!
However, we know that sometimes driving during these icy conditions is unavoidable. Here are some tips to keep in mind when driving in icy conditions.
- Getting Your Car Ready: As you are heading to the car you may notice that you have a layer of ice over it. Do not pour water (hot or cold) over the ice to try to melt it quickly. This can damage your car and crack the glass. Instead, use an ice scraper in combination with your defrost settings to remove the ice. Before you get driving you should allow your car at least 5 minutes to warm up. This is important because it allows the different fluids to circulate before you begin driving.
- Slow Down: The speed of your vehicle can really make a difference when there are icy conditions on the road. If you are driving at high speeds it makes it much harder to stop your vehicle and much easier to lose control if you hit a patch of ice. If you begin to slide you have a better chance of correcting the vehicle's direction at a lower speed. Stay safe and slow down when driving in icy conditions.
- Go Easy on Your Brakes: Brake application is a common trigger of slides and loss of vehicle control during icy conditions. Avoid slamming on the brakes and instead engage your brakes gradually to come to a stop.
- Lengthen Following Distance: One of the effects of icy conditions is not being able to stop as quickly. To mitigate the chance of rear-ending the driver in front of you create a longer following distance than normal. This will give you more space to stop and avoid an accident.
- Don’t Over Correct: If you find your vehicle sliding it is very important to not panic and over correct your wheel. This could send your car into a spin that you may not be able to correct. Remember, the best way to prevent a slide is to slow down and to avoid hard braking.
- Get Your Tires Checked: Tires wear out and depending on your automobile's make year and model, your tires may require attention. Look for wearing tread or have your tires rotated every 5,000 - 7,000 miles to avoid issues; learn more.
We hope that you are able to stay off the road during icy conditions and stay safe. However, if you find that you will have to drive during icy weather check road closures and conditions before you go and remember the tips above. Lastly, even if you are not driving it is important to remember that the freezing weather can affect your car resulting in dead batteries, suspension issues, and coolant system issues.
If you have any questions about how the icy weather can affect your car give Eurasian Auto Repair a call.