Every winter, people are injured or killed because they are unprepared or too confident on snow-covered, slippery roads. Even if you are a veteran motorist from a state like Missouri and do not give venturing out in a blizzard a second thought, keeping these safety tips fresh in your mind will help keep you on the road and under control. If you do live in the Metro St. Louis area, Car Craft Auto Body in St. Louis, Missouri would specifically like for you to take into account these tips:
Make certain you and your automobile are adequately equipped
Prior to deciding to set out on a snowy trip, even if it is just a quick drive to the grocery store, keep these items in mind.
• Be sure that your automobile has ample antifreeze, the windshield is clean and you’ve got an abundance of windshield washer fluid.
• Test to be certain the headlights are clean and in working order.
• Confirm that the tires have tread and are adequately inflated.
• Have your battery checked, to avoid being stranded in the cold with a vehicle that won’t start.
• Equip your car with a flashlight and extra batteries, a first-aid kit, warm clothes, and a blanket.
• Remember to have sunglasses in the automobile, since the glare of the sun from snow and ice can be more intense in the winter months than during the summer time.
• Perhaps the most important of all: Remember your cell phone, so you’ll be able to call in case of emergency.
Slow down and drive smoothly
Driving too quickly is the main cause of accidents in wintertime conditions. Even if you are driving an SUV or a four-wheel-drive vehicle, you simply can’t safely go about doing eighty mph during a snowstorm. No matter your car or truck, how you drive can prevent accidents.
• Avoid unexpected acceleration, braking, and unneeded lane changes. These maneuvers can cause your motor vehicle to lose traction and can launch you into an unrestrained skid, causing a crash.
• Four-wheel-drive may help your car get started in the slushy stuff, but it’s useless when you’re trying to steer or safely stop on a slippery road surface.
• Have patience and accept the reality that it’s going to take more time to reach your destination.
Do not tailgate
Tailgating frequently leads to accidents, specifically if you are driving in stop-and-go traffic like what’s often witnessed in Bridgeton, Chesterfield, and Oakville, Missouri. You might think that the driver ahead of you doing thirty-five mph on the freeway is going too slow and could use a reminder in the form of you riding their bumper, but to do so is unsafe.
• Show patience and stay well behind the driver in front of you until it is safe to pass.
• It is essential to remember that it takes a considerably longer distance to stop the car in the snow or ice because of the diminished traction, even with only a light covering on the road.
• Having to cope with a fender bender on a busy road in the snow is certainly something which you want to avoid, particularly if other cars are sliding around too.
• Many serious accident injuries come from a second impact from an additional vehicle after a seemingly trivial collision.
Don’t use cruise control
Driving with cruise control is almost second nature. Sure, it prevents you from getting leg fatigue, keeps you from unknowingly exceeding the speed limit, and is extremely good on longer trips, but driving with it on in winter conditions can be dangerous.
• If cruise control has turned into a staple of your driving habits, make a mindful effort to ensure that you aren’t utilizing it in winter weather.
• Making use of cruise control in the snow, ice, or even rain is hazardous because if the car hydroplanes or skids, the vehicle can accelerate and spin the wheels, attempting to maintain a constant speed.
• If you hydroplane with cruise control on, it will be more likely that you lose control of your automobile.
Pull over or stay home
Keep in mind, there’s no shame in making the wise decision to stay in when the conditions are dangerous. You might be late coming to your destination, but turning up late in one piece is substantially better than the alternative.
• If you’re able to delay your trip, or if it is non-essential, stay in whenever the weather is very bad.
• If at any time during your trip you think that the conditions are too bad to keep driving, just stay put.
• If you’re out on the road, look for a safe spot to pull over and wait until the weather passes or calms enough where you feel comfortable driving again.
• If driving in bad weather conditions is fatiguing, switch drivers before you get tired.
Even if you take every safety precaution, accidents still happen. If you’re in any sort of accident in the St. Louis, MO area, contact Car Craft Auto Body and they’ll send a tow truck, arrange for a rental car, and repair your vehicle with the highest-quality repair service.