Driving Safe During the Winter
It’s official. We’re in the midst of a long winter. Snow, ice, sleet, and frigid temperatures are going to be more and more common. Driving under these conditions can threaten the safety of you and your passengers. That’s why it’s important to drive safely during the winter. Here at Mazda of Orland Park, we want to help you stay safe, so we compiled some winter weather safe driving tips. For winter maintenance, schedule your Mazda service appointment today!
Stock Your Vehicle with An Emergency Kit
During the winter, your vehicle should be stocked with an ice scraper, but it’s also important to keep it stock with some emergency supplies just in case. Safety items include a snow shovel, broom, and abrasive material (sand or kitty litter), in case your vehicle gets stuck in the snow. For generally auto safety, you should have jumper cables, a flashlight, and some warning devices like flares and emergency markers. For personal safety, make sure to have blankets or extra clothing for protection from the cold, as well as a phone charger, water, food, and any necessary medicine.
Slow Down
It’s imperative that you decrease your speed during winter weather driving. Unlike normal road conditions, winter weather means a huge risk of ice. Even worse, black ice means you won’t even be able to see it. Slowing down will help reduce the safety risks ice causes because it helps make up for reduced traction. It will also help to prevent your wheels sliding on ice. Speaking of sliding, you’ll want to make sure you keep a safe distance between you and other vehicles.
Don’t Use Cruise Control
Along with slowing down, avoiding the use of cruise control helps ensure safety on snowy and slushy roads. Using cruise control on slippery surfaces and black ice makes it much likelier that you’ll lose control of your vehicle because cruise control slows down reaction time. It also doesn’t have the human component that makes quickly adjusting to patches of ice or snow possible.
Keep Your Tank Full
In general, people tend to use more gas in the winter months, but this is the most important time to keep your gas tank full. If you run out of gas, it’s possible to end up stranded on the side of the road or in bumper-to-bumper traffic, which is dangerous with frigid temperatures and low visibility conditions. If this happens, it’s especially important that you stocked your vehicle with an emergency kit as mentioned above. As your tank nears the half full marker, fill it back up just in case.
Schedule Winter Maintenance
One of the easiest yet most important safe driving tips in winter is to get your vehicle serviced for the winter. Winterizing your vehicle may include new wiper blades, refilling your car’s fluids, or installing a cold weather car battery, among other things. No matter what you do, winter maintenance helps make sure your vehicle is safe to drive this winter. Find a Mazda Dealer Near Me now for winter service!
Visit Mazda of Orland Park!
Looking for a Mazda dealership in Orland Park, IL? At Mazda of Orland Park, we have a great selection of new and used vehicles, as well as a professional service department to help you prepare for the winter. Schedule your winter maintenance online now!
