Motorists who prepare early for the onset of colder weather will increase their safety during the winter-driving season, according to the American Automobile Association (AAA), the nation's largest organization for motorists.
AAA says taking care of preventive vehicle maintenance and adjusting your driving habits to changing conditions in the driving environment are the two most important steps you can take at this time of year.
Some of the items to be checked include all fluids (especially antifreeze) tires, wheel alignment, brakes, lights, belts, hoses, and battery life expectancy.
Also important in preparing for winter driving is the need to adjust driving patterns to fit the season. Visibility is reduced and the road surface is often degraded during the winter months.
Motorists can increase their safety by:
- Turning on headlights in the late afternoon before the sun begins to set to improve visibility. Always use your low-beam headlights in fog, rain, or snow.
- Be sure to signal your intention to turn well in advance.
- Clear all snow and ice from windows, roof, hood, trunk, mirrors, lights, and signals.
- Observe all speed limits, and reduce speed whenever road conditions or visibility is compromised by foul weather.
- Avoid sudden starts, stops, and hard turns, especially when roads are slippery or wet.
- Don't brake hard, and use the proper braking technique for the vehicle you drive. Cars with anti-lock brakes require a steady, gradual application of pressure to the brake pedal. Cars without anti-lock brakes might need firm pressure on the brake pedal just short of wheel lockup, and then easing off the brake slightly before reapplying pressure.
- Anticipate potential danger on the road such as icy bridges, snow-covered lane markings, or stalled cars. Decrease your speed, increase your distance between the vehicle in front of you, or change lanes to avoid trouble.
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