Winter Driving Tips
- Details
- Created on Tuesday, 18 November 2014 18:42
- Written by Victoria Nicoletta
AROUND THE NEK - With the winter season making it's first appearance this week, people around the Northeast Kingdom are being urged to drive more carefully.
Traveling in snowy and icy conditions can be both frightening and dangerous. To help people prepare for the long winter ahead of us AAA has come up with some safe driving tips.
You should always try to keep your gas tank half full, at least, in order to avoid gas lines from freezing. Accelerate and decelerate your car slowly that way you are giving yourself enough time to stop if you need to. It is also a good way to regain traction between your tires and the road. If you can, avoid coming to a full stop; Coming to a full stop raises the risks of sliding.
Make sure that you do not accelerate too much going up hills. Stepping on the gas too much up hill will make your wheels spin. Also, do not fully stop when you are driving up a hill. You should avoid using cruise control when the roads are slippery.
For some the biggest hinderance to driving in the winter is working around the plowing schedule. Dale Guy-Singer said that his commute to Lyndonville can sometimes be a struggle. "Especially like this morning. It was raining and sort of snowing at the same time, so it's hard to stay on top of the road conditions and keep them clear all the time. I know it seems like they try to do their best to get the mornings and the evenings for commuters. But, for me. I have an off schedule. I don't do the nine to five because I'm a student, so it's hard."
If you do not have a reason to make the trek into slippery and frigid conditions then staying at home is a good idea. AAA stresses for people to drive slowly and to put aside enough time to make it to your destination safely.
