Safe Winter Driving

No matter how many winters one has lived through, driving on slick winter roads never feels comfortable.  And so, for your safety and peace of mind, please become acquainted with the following tips for safe winter driving.  The best way to prepare for the holiday and the Big Chill ahead is to "winterize" your vehicle.  A fully trained technician can meticulously inspect the components crucial for winter driving, such as battery, brakes, alternator, cooling system, oil, belts, hoses and tires.  Winterizing your car helps ensure that it will start and operate correctly, and won't leave you stranded in the cold.

Would you know what to do if your car hit a slippery spot and threatened to spin out of control?  Because one often won't see danger until it's too late, we suggest these measures of caution to prepare you for the worst:

Let your lights shine -- Not only is it safer for you and other drivers to use headlights in inclement weather, but it is also the law in many states.

Slick trick -- Watch for slippery spots called glare ice.  These may appear on an otherwise clear road in shaded areas. If you see a patch of ice ahead, brake before reaching it and try not to brake while actually on the ice.

Life in the slow lane -- Haste makes waste ... and it can also land you in the hospital. Use extra caution in bad conditions.  However, don't slow down too much, or you'll become a hazard to the other drivers behind you!

Hang back -- Give yourself three times the normal following distance to stop on a wet surface, and brake sooner than you would on dry pavement.  And don't use your cruise control.

Follow the leader -- In rain or ice, the safest part of the road is the tracks of the vehicle ahead of you.

Avoid sudden moves -- Abrupt changes in direction and slamming on your brakes could cause you to spin out of control.  If you start to skid, take your foot off the gas pedal, and try to steer your car in the direction you wish to go.  When the tires regain their grip, steer just enough the other way to prevent counter skid.

Maintain your tires -- By keeping the proper air pressure and making sure the tread is in good shape, you can help your tires to do a better job of gripping the road.

Stock survival supplies -- It's a good idea to carry the following items in your vehicle in the winter: ice scraper and stiff-bristled brush (to clear ice from windows and wiper blades); jumper cables; rock salt (to melt ice); kitty litter (for traction if tires get stuck in the spin cycle); extra window washer fluid; and a sturdy flat board to give your car jack firm support.

We can't predict how bad this winter will be.  We can predict, however, that by driving smart and letting the Jay's Kirkland Autocare winterize your vehicle now, you will have reliable transportation when Old Man Winter drops in.