Winter Driving - Part 1 of 3 - Winter Driving Tips

Winter Driving Tips - Part 1 of 3

o need to knuckle-grip the steering wheel. Severe weather is often frightening and dangerous for travelers. It doesn’t matter if you can drive in the snow, you must be watchful of other drivers. “Winter storms, bad weather and sloppy road conditions are a factor in nearly half a million crashes and more than 2,000 road deaths every winter, according to research by the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety.” All good drivers should know the safety precautions for dealing with winter road emergencies. At Martinsville Pro Towing, we urge drivers like you to be cautious while driving in adverse weather conditions. We’re providing some winter driving tips to refresh your memory about driving in the snow and bad weather conditions.
If you’ve ever been stuck in the snow with no hope of immediate rescue, it can be daunting. However, when you’re prepared, it makes the ordeal much easier to handle, because you know you’ll be safe. Even with the newest cell phone technology and systems that can find your cell phone, you’ll still need to be prepared in case the worst happens to you. In this three-part series, Martinsville Pro Towing recommends the following tips while driving in snowy and icy conditions:

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Cold Weather Driving Tips

Cold Weather Driving Tips

• Pack Your Emergency Winter Kit: Keep a package of cold-weather items in your car or truck.  These things include items, such as extra food (high energy shelf-stable is best in case of an emergency) and water, warm clothing (gloves, hats, scarves, coats, warm boots, etc) flashlight (consider getting a hand-cranked flashlight), extra batteries, a glass scraper, blankets, medications, compact shovel, traction supplies, and more. It’s a good idea to place these items in zipper plastic bags to protect them from moisture. In an emergency the plastic bag may also become handy. Make certain there are enough supplies for all travelers in the vehicle. Remember any supplies you’ll need for your pets if they will be traveling with you. And although it may sound silly, but be sure to pack a roll of toilet paper, wipes and hand sanitizer. No explanation is necessary, right?
• Check Your Tires: Make certain your tires have plenty of tread and are properly inflated. So how do you know you have enough tire tread? Stick a quarter between the treads of your tires at several places (putting George in upside-down). If you can see the top of George’s hair, it’s about time to change your tires.
• Full Tank of Fuel: It’s important to keep at least half a tank of fuel in your vehicle all the time. This helps prevent the fuel lines from freezing. It also prevents condensation from forming in the gas tank which can cause difficulty later in starting your car.
• Carbon Monoxide Danger: For your protection, Never Ever warm up your vehicle in an closed in space, like a garage. Not even for a short time.  The build-up of carbon monoxide can kill you or other occupants in the attached building.
• No Cruise Control Please: You might like the convenience, however do not use your cruise control when you’re driving on any slippery surface, like on ice and snow. The cruise control can not adapt to the road conditions to keep you safe.

In Part 2 of our series we'll talk about Tips for Driving in the Snow. We hope you find the information in our series on Driving Tips in the Winter useful to you. Stay safe out there on the road. And in the event you find yourself needing a tow truck, give a ring. Tap our phone number and we'll hook you up.