There’s Still Plenty of Winter
The daylight is coming back, and we are seeing less deer strike now that rutting season is over. While some of us are ready for the warm weather and sunshine, mother nature may have other plans. We have seen a couple flakes throughout the holidays but nothing worthy of a plow or shovel. As we enter February the temps are just getting lower, so in preparation for what winter has left for us we want to take this time to remind everyone the importance of taking it slow in snowy and icy conditions.
Even with all of the advances in auto manufacturing technology, snow and ice still lead to a ton of collisions each year and many of them are preventable. People often feel a sense of safety nowadays with their 4-wheel or all-wheel drive vehicles, but they are no match for ice covered roads. Having 4WD and AWD in icy conditions will simply mean that you will have four wheels spinning instead of two. It is always important to remember that you can’t always see ice, so it is best to use caution when driving in wintery conditions. If your car starts to skid on ice, here are a few things you can do:
- Take your foot off the accelerator and avoid slamming on the brakes.
- Turn your wheel in the direction the vehicle is sliding (if the rear of the vehicle is sliding right, turn the steering wheel to the right).
- Avoid over correcting your steering.
- As the car straightens out, return your steering wheel to the center.
The best way to stay safe on the roads while they are icy, is to avoid them all together, if possible, but we understand sometimes that is not an option. If you do go out in the winter weather, you should:
- Wear a seatbelt.
- Drive at a slow speed in as high a gear as possible.
- Accelerate and brake very gently.
- Drive particularly slowly on bends in the road where loss of control is more likely.
- Check your grip on the road surface when there is snow or ice on the road by choosing a safe place to brake gently.
The hardest part about the winter we are having is that the weather has been very unpredictable, so getting caught in bad road conditions is more likely. We urge everyone to use your best judgement when it comes to winter conditions and to stay home whenever possible.
