Winter Driving Guide
Whether you love it or hate it the snow and ice have finally come, and we want all of you to stay safe so this is Pettijohn Auto Center’s guide to winter driving!
The first step is actually not starting your vehicle 10 minutes before you need to drive but making sure your vehicle is properly stocked in case of emergency!
This includes making sure you have some extra winter gear in your vehicle like extra food, water, warm clothing, flashlight, glass scraper, blankets etc.
It is also important that before you leave, also make sure that your tires have plenty of tread left, 6/32 or deeper is preferable, as well as plenty of air!
Another key tip is to always keep your gas tank at least half full! When your vehicle heats up and then cools down it can create condensation in your gas tank putting water in your gas that can cause fuel line blockages and other issues that will need repairs! Another reason is just in case you aren’t near a gas station!
Warming up your vehicle is a good idea, but make sure you don’t warm it up in an enclosed area as the fumes from the exhaust are toxic, and our last tip for cold weather driving is to NEVER use your cruise control when driving on any slippery surface like ice or snow!
Now if you do find yourself having to drive in the snow, we have you covered with some tips and tricks!
First you should drive slowly so you have more control over your vehicle and more time to react to dangers on the road.
Accelerate and decelerate slowly to keep traction and avoid skidding and sliding.
Increasing your following distance or the space between you and other vehicles is a good practice so in case of slippery conditions you are less likely to have a fender bender or worse!
Avoid stops if you can! The difference in the amount of inertia it takes to get moving again after coming to a complete stop rather than while you are still moving.
Although it may be tempting powering up hills is something you should NOT be doing, if it is slippery your wheels will only spin and you will not go anywhere or will slide back down, instead get some speed going before you reach the hill and let inertia carry you to the top.
Winter is finally here but you are prepared for the worst now, and if you still get in a pickle the Pettijohn Collision center is always here to not only take care of your vehicle but you! If you need to get a hold of our collision center you can visit our website pettijohnauto.com/body-shop/ or call us at 660-425-2244! Happy New Year and drive safely!
