Jeff Voth, Yahoo! Canada Autos
The best defense for winter driving is a good offense. Taking precautions before the worst of it starts in late December and early January can make all the difference between a good winter of driving and the worst. Here are several tips that will hopefully make this winter a little less stressful.
Stop doors from freezing
To keep car doors from freezing in the cold weather, spray or smear silicone on all the gaskets between the door and the car's body. It's a good idea to also treat the gaskets on the trunk or hatch.
Most new vehicles today feature keyless entry systems. But many of us still drive cars that use a conventional key. Washing your car on a regular basis is a good way to keep salt and grime off your vehicle during the winter. To prevent locks from freezing, spray graphite in the key slot and work the key into the hole several times to push the graphite deep into the locking mechanism.
Windshield careApply a repellant to the windshield and all the windows to keep them free of slush, salt and dirt. Repellants work by filling in the microscopic pits and scratches where gunk and slush collect. This will also make it easier to scrape off ice and snow from the windows. At the same time, replace your summer wiper blades with winter blades designed for extreme weather.
Never yank or chop at your windshield wipers in an effort to free them if they become stuck. This action may cause you to rip the wiper blade, leading to streaks or uneven wiping when using the wipers. Instead, start the vehicle, put on the windshield and rear defroster, then clear the side and rear windows first. By the time you get to the front, the wipers should be free enough to move without causing any damage.
Be prepared for an emergency
Keep a well-stocked emergency kit in your vehicle in case you become stranded. Some of the items you may want to include are: battery jumper cables, a first-aid kit, collapsible shovel, a basic tool kit, sleeping bags and blankets, extra winter clothing, flashlight with extra batteries, a crank radio, bag of sand, candles and matches, flares and an extra car battery. Make sure to always keep your cellphone charged, especially during the winter months.
If you become stranded in your vehicle in a winter storm, stay calm and remain inside, call for help with your cell phone, stay warm with blankets, keep your lights on to remain visible and remember to run the engine and heat periodically to save fuel and battery power. It is rarely a good idea to leave your vehicle and look for help in storm. Be prepared and wait for help to arrive.
Stay alert and drive safeA few years ago I had the opportunity to attend the Bridgestone Winter Driving School in Steamboat Springs, Colorado. Numerous courses are offered on three specially designed ice tracks. At this time of year, it makes a great Christmas gift and may even save a life or two, (www.winterdrive.com).
People attending the course range in age and driving experience. For those just learning to drive in the winter, it provides the perfect setting to push the limit, lose control safely and become a better driver. Here are several of the driving tips we learned as taken from the Bridgestone Blizzak Winter Driving website.
Adjust your speed to the current conditions. When driving in challenging conditions, decreasing your speed will allow more time to respond when a difficult situation arises. Factors such as the type of vehicle you are driving, the quality of tires your car is equipped with, and your abilities as a driver should be considered in the speed adjustment. Remember that posted speed limits identify the maximum speed allowed when weather conditions are ideal.
Anticipate difficult situations. Studies have shown that 80 per cent of all accidents could be prevented with only one more second to react. In many situations, this one second can be gained by looking far enough down the road to identify problems before you become a part of them. Be more alert to the actions of other drivers. Anticipate vehicles coming from side streets and put extra distance between your vehicle and the one in front of you. If someone is too close behind you, don't speed up -- slow down and let them go around you.
Use grip effectively. When roads are slippery, use all of the grip available. Brake only before the curve when the car is travelling straight. Taking your foot off the brake before you steer into the curve allows you to use all of the grip available for steering. Don't accelerate until you begin to straighten the steering wheel when exiting the turn. This technique will allow you to be 100% effective at each maneuver. In many situations, better grip or traction can be gained by placing the outside wheels toward the shoulder of the road, out of the ruts in the centre. The difference in traction can unbalance the car during the transition from rut to shoulder, so be alert.
When driving at night, leave your headlights on low beam while driving in snow or fog. This practice minimizes the reflection and glare, improves visibility, and reduces eye fatigue. When oncoming cars approach, focus on the right side of the roadway to help maintain good night vision.
Keep a smooth, progressive and light touch on the brakes for normal braking. Even in a car equipped with ABS (Anti-lock Braking System). In the event of an emergency in an ABS-equipped car, press the pedal HARD and hold it down. Remember that in an ABS-equipped car, you can also steer around many obstacles while braking. Perhaps a better description of ABS would be: "Allows you to Brake and Steer."
Don't overestimate the capability of four-wheel drive vehicles. Many drivers mistakenly believe that four-wheel drive is all-powerful. Every type of vehicle depends on four small contact patches where the tire meets the road for traction. These small areas are the only contact of your vehicle to the road. Four-wheel drive does not improve braking or cornering effectiveness.
Wear quality sunglasses. Good quality sunglasses help highlight changes in the terrain and road surface even in low visibility conditions.
The world's best drivers are trained to anticipate trouble early and direct the vehicle appropriately before they become involved in a problem. Reacting too quickly can be dangerous if the driver's response is inappropriate. Waiting too long can be just as deadly. Stay focused and learn to watch the road ahead and behind to stay safe.
A better approach is to start your vehicle and let it run for up to one minute before driving away. This will allow fluids to begin flowing through the engine and then warm up to efficient temperatures under normal driving conditions.