When winter weather hits, be prepared. Unless you’re able to hibernate at home for the winter, you’re bound to have to drive during winter weather. Rather than slip-sliding away on snowy roads, be ready with these tips for safe winter driving in Minnesota. The first step – schedule winter car care services with your mechanic to ensure your car’s systems are ready for cold temperatures and adverse weather like snow and ice. Then it’s up to you to follow our tips for winter drivers.
Winter Car Care Helps Ensure You’re Ready for Winter Weather
Seasonal car care helps stay ahead of major repairs – and winter is no exception. As we head into the heart of winter, schedule services with your mechanic to check essential systems like the engine, transmission, and brakes. By making sure these systems are all running smoothly, you help ensure you stay safe on the road this winter.
Freezing temperatures and harsh weather can be especially hard on the car battery, engine, transmission, and tires. Changing temperatures cause tire pressure to fluctuate and the lower temperatures drop, the harder it is for the battery, engine, and transmission to operate. Checking in on these parts and systems now will help prevent them from causing problems the rest of the winter.
Follow These Tips for Safe Winter Driving in Minnesota
Once winter weather hits, your driving habits can make or break your safety on the road. Though there’s no guarantee you won’t run into trouble on the road this winter, following these five winter driving tips will help increase your chances of staying safe – and being prepared in case you find yourself stranded.
1. Remove Snow and Ice Fully from Your Vehicle Before Driving
If you tend to take a lazy approach to clearing snow and ice from your car, you’re not alone. In frigid temperatures, it’s tempting to just clear the bare minimum and let the defroster, wipers, and wind do the rest for you while you drive. However, not only does that pose a safety risk due to low visibility, but there’s also a risk the remaining snow will slide off and hit other drivers on the road.
Finally, if you clear your windows but not snow on the top of your car, it can slide down over your windows as you drive, suddenly making it difficult to see your surroundings.
2. Accelerate and Brake Gently on Icy or Snowy Roads
The key to driving safely in winter weather is to be gentle and avoid sudden movements. This means easing off your acceleration, braking lightly, and increasing the distance between you and other drivers. Slamming on your brakes or speeding around corners will likely cause you to lose traction and start sliding on snowy roads. Whether you’re surrounded by traffic or you’re the only one on the road, take it easy to help avoid damage or danger on wintery roads.
3. If You Have an Anti-Lock Brake System (ABS), Don’t Pump the Brakes
These days, most vehicles come equipped with an anti-lock brake system (ABS) to help you safely brake in slick conditions. This system is triggered when one or more of your tires loses traction with the road and will help you maintain or regain control of your car. Rather than pumping the brakes, as you would to help prevent non-ABS brakes from locking, apply firm, steady pressure on the brake pedal.
4. When You Lose Traction, Look to Where You Want to Go – and Take Your Foot Off the Pedals
When you drive in winter, you’re likely to find your car sliding at one point – or more. This can be stressful for any driver, but by staying calm, you increase your chances of staying safe. As you feel your car start to slide, ease your foot off either the gas or brake pedal and allow your car to coast. At the same time, focus your eyes on where you want to go and steer gently in that direction.
5. Keep Tools & an Emergency Kit in Your Vehicle
Especially if you drive on rural roads, you may find yourself stranded by winter weather. Be prepared with helpful tools and an emergency kit. Tools like a scraper/brush, a small shovel, jumper cables, tire chains, and sand or cat litter can help get you unstuck. A well-equipped emergency kit will help keep you safe while you wait for help – including blankets, boots, non-perishable high-energy food, water, and flashlights.
Prepare for Winter Car Driving – Visit AAMCO Minnesota’s Mechanics
Check-in on your car’s systems this winter. Scheduling winter car care services with your local AAMCO Minnesota mechanics will help ensure you and your car make it through winter safely. Give us a call to discuss what your car may need or simply make an appointment with us online.