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Months of winter driving are upon you once again

On Behalf of | Oct 22, 2018 | Uncategorized

Before you know it, the holidays will be here, and with them could come sleet, snow and ice. Living in West Virginia for any length of time could desensitize you to inclement weather, which could result in issues when it returns.

During the summer months, you probably forget about how to drive in winter weather. After all, who wants to think about how annoying it can be to travel under those circumstances when the sun is shining and you are wearing shorts? For this reason, it might be a good idea to enjoy a short review regarding driving safely in the winter.

Be prepared

A saying goes something like this, “Chance favors the prepared mind.” This certainly applies to driving, especially in inclement weather. Keeping the tips below in mind as the weather gets colder and the days get shorter could save your life:

  • Don’t let your wheels spin on ice because it will only make the surface more slippery. Instead, use just enough gas to start forward momentum or put something like cardboard under your drive wheels for traction.
  • Once you do start moving, make sure you leave plenty of space between your vehicle and the one ahead of you.
  • If you have to slam on your brakes, the vibrations and “skipping” you feel are from the automatic braking system, or ABS. This and stability control, which became mandatory on vehicles beginning in 2013, help keep you on the road when you must stop suddenly.
  • Make sure your tires are prepared, too. They should have sufficient tread and proper inflation in order to provide you with the best possible chance at gaining traction.
  • You could easily forget what it feels like to slide on icy or snowy roads. It may be worthwhile to practice this in an empty parking lot or at a driving school to make sure you will know what to do and not panic.
  • Make you sure you have an emergency kit in your vehicle and that you have the right and enough insurance.

Many vehicles these days are either front wheel drive, four-wheel drive or all-wheel drive. Knowing what type of vehicle you have could help you better understand how your vehicle performs in inclement weather. Obeying the traffic rules of the road would be another important bit of advice you may receive when it comes to driving in the winter.

Sadly, not everyone will pay attention to these tips, and you could end up seriously injured as a result of the negligence of another driver. If that happens, you may be able to pursue recompense for the financial losses you incur and may continue to incur in the aftermath of the crash.

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