Tips For Driving On Snow and Ice

When the streets get slippery and you’ve got a place to be, you ought to know of these safe driving tips which could make the distinction between a problem-free arrival and an unexpected detour to a St. Louis auto body shop. Car Craft Auto Body is glad to offer you these guidelines to help you stay safe this winter.

Driving Safely On Icy Roads

  • Reduce your speed and leave yourself plenty of room to stop. You should allow at least three times more space than normal between you and the automobile in front of your car.
  • Brake carefully to prevent skidding. If your wheels start to lock up, ease off the brake.
  • Switch on your lights to improve your visibility to other drivers.
  • Keep your lights and windshield clean.
  • Make use of low gears to maintain traction, specifically on hills.
  • Do not use cruise control or overdrive on icy roadways.
  • Be particularly careful on bridges, overpasses, and infrequently traveled roads, which will freeze first. Even at temperatures above freezing, if the conditions are moist you might encounter ice in shady areas or on uncovered roadways like bridges.
  • Do not pass snow plows and sanding trucks. The drivers have limited visibility and you’re likely to find the road in front of them worse than the road behind.
  • Don’t assume your vehicle can handle all conditions. Even four-wheel and front-wheel drive vehicles can end up having to get tow assistance on winter roads.

If Your Rear Wheels Skid

  • Take your foot off the accelerator.
  • Steer in the direction you would like the front tires to go. If your rear tires are sliding left, steer left. If they are gliding right, steer right.
  • If your rear wheels begin sliding the other way as you recover, ease the steering wheel in the direction of that side. You may have to steer right and left a few times to get your vehicle completely in check.
  • Should you have standard brakes, pump them gently.
  • Should you have anti-lock brakes (ABS), do not pump the brakes. Apply steady pressure to the brakes. You’ll feel the brake system pulse – this is normal.

If Your Front Wheels Skid

  • Bring your foot off of the gas and shift to neutral, but do not try to steer right away.
  • As the wheels slip laterally, they will slow the vehicle and traction will return. As it does, steer in the direction you’ll want to go. Then put the transmission in “drive” or release the clutch, and accelerate gently.

If You Get Stuck

  • Do not spin your wheels. This will just dig you in deeper.
  • Turn your tires from side to side a couple of times to push snow out of the way.
  • Utilize a light touch on the gas, to ease your vehicle out.
  • Use a shovel to clear snow away from the wheels and the bottom of the car.
  • Pour sand, kitty litter, gravel, or salt in the path of the wheels to help get traction.
  • Try rocking your vehicle. (Look at your owner’s manual first – it may damage the transmission on some automobiles.) Shift from forward to reverse, and back again. Every time you’re in gear, give a light touch on the gas until the automobile gets going.

There are a lot of do’s and don’t’s with regards to winter driving safety. St. Louis, MO collision repair is a very prevalent thing. In fact, you would be shocked how many motorists in St. Louis, Bridgeton, Chesterfield, and Oakville, Missouri wind up wishing that they’d never pulled out of their driveways. If this is you and you need somebody to help you fix your motor vehicle, check out Car Craft Auto Body.