Tips For Staying Safe On The Road This Winter
Road safety is obviously a year-round concern, but it takes on special significance and urgency when the weather turns sour, as icy, slick roads and reduced visibility can be an added hazard for motorists. At AUTO ONE Group we take road safety very seriously, which is why we figured it would be helpful to cover some tips in this post about how to make sure you’re protected when the cold weather hits. It’s no fun sliding into a ditch, and even less fun sliding into another car.
The first thing that anyone will advise you to do is to put together a winter driving kit. In this kit, you’ll want to include a shovel (in case you’re wheels are stuck), a flashlight (in case you’re caught with a flat tire or something in the middle of the night), a windshield scraper (an absolute must have for the chilly Canadian winter) as well as a first aid kit, jumper cables, flares, water and a few energy bars. You’ll also want to make sure that you always have a charged cell phone handy in case you need to call for roadside assistance. It’s a lot to stock, we know, and people often procrastinate doing it, but it’s honestly just better to be safe than sorry, and when you’re stranded at the roadside in the middle of the night you’ll be thanking the heavens you made a kit.
Another preventative measure is a simple one: check the weather before you head out. Obviously, if you’re going to work or to an important appointment you don’t have the luxury of not driving, but in those cases you could always consider taking public transit or calling a taxi. There are great, up-to-date weather forecasts online these days, so there’s no reason you should catch yourself by surprise when you’re driving in inclement weather. And if mechanical difficulties do arise, you can be rest assured knowing that one of the benefits of leasing a car is that it’s always under warranty – another wonderful reason to lease a car with AUTO ONE Group.
Before you head out into bad weather, make sure to tell someone that you’re heading out, and, if possible, tell them the route you’re going to take. Also, check your tank to make sure that it’s at least a quarter full (if not a half full), because it would be awful to run out of gas in bad weather. If you’re going to heat up your car in advance, don’t do it in an enclosed space like your garage, as the fumes can build up causing you to breathe in harmful carbon monoxide.
When on the road, accelerate slowly, and if you find yourself skidding, pump the brakes or use your anti-lock braking system. Winterize your vehicle with winter tires for added assurance. And if you’re taking a highway, even if it’s a pretty quiet highway with few other motorists, resist the urge to throw on your cruise control, as it can make the effects of hydroplaning worse.
It’s a lot of info to digest, but it’s important to stay safe out there, especially since the forecasts for this winter look pretty bleak. Just put together a kit and take some common sense precautions, giving other vehicles a lot of room, and you’ll be fine. And if you’re looking for a car that you can call your own, that you don’t mind dragging through a few Canadian winters, check out our selection of used cars in Vancouver, Toronto or Halifax. Don’t let winter send you sliding into traffic – follow these tips for staying safe on the road.