The most dangerous time to be driving is when the roads are icy. If possible, it’s best to stay off the roads completely when they’re covered by ice or snow.Of course, staying at home when the roads are icy isn’t always possible. If you do find yourself battling ice and snow, here are some tips to help you stay safe in dicey driving conditions.
- Go slow – Slow and steady wins the race, at least when the roads are icy. Driving slowly reduces your momentum, making it much easier to stop or turn, even if the road provides little traction. And, instead of risking a major accident, the worst-case scenario when driving slowly is a minor fender-bender.
- Don’t get too close – Allow plenty of room between your car and other vehicles or obstacles. That extra space will allow you time to stop or steer in order to prevent an accident.
- Beware of bridges – Ice is more likely to form on bridges or overpasses. Any elevated roadway does not benefit from the ground’s residual heat, and therefore freezes faster.
- Drive with a light foot – With less traction, hitting the brakes or the gas too hard is much more likely to cause skidding or wheel spin.
- Know how to handle skids – Let off the accelerator and turn the steering wheel in the direction the car is sliding. If this causes a skid in the opposite direction, which isn’t unusual, repeat the process until you have the car traveling straight again.
- Have good visibility – Before setting out, remove all ice and snow from the windows, mirrors, headlights and taillights. Once you’re on the road, the best way to keep the windshield clean is to plan ahead for winter driving with new windshield wipers and de-icing windshield washer fluid.
One of the best ways to stay safe when the roads are icy is to choose a safe vehicle to drive. For help finding the right vehicle that’s safe to drive in all weather conditions, contact the leasing experts at Swapalease,com.
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