Outsmarting icy roads
Tuesday, November 15th, 2011
We’ve all been there—trudging through the snow in the bitter cold, starting the car engine (sometimes taking multiple tries), scraping and defrosting the windows and warming the car up before finally hitting the road. Sound familiar? Here in Canada, block heaters and window scrapers are about as foreign as hockey and bacon. Winter driving is a cold, hard reality we face every year, and we can never be too prepared. Reduce the stress of winter driving and gain confidence by following the tips below:
- Remember your cell phone for emergencies—but no chatting or texting behind the wheel.
- Take proper winter attire with you at all times: gloves, hat and boots.
- Always check the weather and road reports. Know what weather conditions are expected before you leave the house.
- Drive according to weather conditions. Slow down and leave extra space to stop and start.
- Install four winter tires.
- Plan your route ahead of time and let people know where you are going.
- Maintain a safe distance between your vehicle and others; stopping takes longer on snowy and icy roads.
- Do not use cruise control on wet, snowy or icy highways.
- Keep your fuel tank at least half full at all times to prevent the gas line from freezing.
- Ensure all windows, lights, mirrors and license plates are free of snow.
- Keep a road safety and emergency kit in your vehicle. This should include an ice scraper, snow brush, first aid kit, booster cables, flashlight, warm blanket and high energy snacks.
- Finally, if the weather is really bad, just stay home.
Drive smart this winter. If you haven’t winterized your vehicle, be sure to stop by your nearest Integra Tire and Auto Centre—our highly-trained service professionals will get you and your ride ready to challenge the winter roads.
