Texas has freezing weather and rain in the forecast, so you can expect ice on the roads. Without proper tires, and even with them, the best way to stay safe during these conditions would be to stay home.
Sometimes driving on icy roads may be unavoidable. If staying home is not an option; here are some tips for driving in these types of conditions!
- Slow Down: The speed of your vehicle can really make a difference when there are icy conditions on the road. If you begin to slide you have a better chance of correcting the vehicle’s direction at a lower speed. Stay safe and slow down when driving in icy conditions. If you are driving at high speeds it makes it much harder to stop your vehicle and much easier to lose control if you hit a patch of ice.
- Getting Your Car Ready: As you are heading to the car you may notice that you have a layer of ice over it. Do not pour water (hot or cold) over the ice to try to melt it quickly. This can damage your car and crack the glass. Instead, use an ice scraper in combination with your defrost settings to remove the ice. Before you get driving you should allow your car at least 5 minutes to warm up. This is important because it allows the different fluids to circulate before you begin driving.
- Distance: One of the effects of icy conditions is not being able to stop as quickly. To mitigate the chance of rear-ending the driver in front of you create a longer following distance than normal.
- Go Easy on Your Brakes: Brake application is a common trigger of slides and loss of vehicle control during icy conditions. Avoid slamming on the brakes and instead engage your brakes gradually to come to a stop.
- Get Your Tires Checked: Tires wear out and depending on your automobile’s make year and model, your tires may require attention. Look for wearing tread or have your tires rotated every 5,000 – 7,000 miles to avoid issues; learn more.
- Over Correction: If you find your vehicle sliding it is very important to not panic and over correct your wheel. This could send your car into a spin that you may not be able to correct. Remember, the best way to prevent a slide is to slow down and to avoid hard braking.
If you find that you will have to drive during icy weather check road closures and conditions before you go and remember the tips above. Lastly, even if you are not driving it is important to remember that the freezing weather can affect your car resulting in dead batteries, suspension issues, and coolant system issues.
If you have any questions about how the icy weather can affect your car give Alamo Auto AC a call.
