Safe Winter Driving Tips

reminds drivers that keeping  vehicles in top operating condition is most important this time of year in order  to handle the ever-changing conditions the season brings.

McIntosh suggests the following five preventive tips to ensure drivers and  their passengers travel safely this winter season:

• 1. Check your tires: First, and most important, have your tires checked  before snow strikes and make sure you have the right tires for the conditions  you expect to face. Secondly, checking the air pressure frequently is also  important because cold weather causes tire pressure to decrease and can affect  the degree of grip your tires have with the road surface.

  Finally, the condition of tires also is important as worn or damaged tires  can hamper your driving ability, particularly when you need them to perform the  most. It is best to replace tires before the tread depth is the regulatory 1.55  mm.
  
  

  2. Winterize your vehicle: Be sure to check your battery, oil and all fluids,  brakes, lights and engine belts and hoses. What works in warm weather may not  work so well when temperatures fall.
  
  

  3. Plan ahead: Before heading out check weather and road conditions and  ensure you have plenty of time to reach your destination safely. Driving quickly  to make up time in winter conditions is almost sure to increase your chances of  having an accident.
  
  

  4. Clear snow and ice: Clear any ice, snow or frost from all windows, lights,  mirrors and the roof. After starting your vehicle, wait for the fog to clear  from the interior of the windows to ensure good visibility all around before  heading out on the roadways.
  
  

  5. “Feel” what you’re driving: Avoid the use of cruise control when  navigating slippery road conditions whether it is rain, ice or snow. Your direct  “feel” for your vehicle’s traction, as well as what speed you think is safe for  the conditions, is enhanced when you have the personal control and live feedback  from your steering, brakes and gas pedal as a combination.