Minimize Risk on The Road During a Winter Storm!

New York Used Car Dealer | St. James Car Dealership

With Winter, the ice and snow make driving conditions more dangerous. There are certain conditions that Winter may bring and we want to make sure you are prepared. We have some tips, sourced from Geico.com, to help you Minimize your Risk while on the Road During a Winter Storm.

First, before you think about heading out on the road, clear any snow, ice or dirt from your windows, grill, headlights, and tail lights.

ICE can be extremely dangerous to drive on. Clear “black” ice forms on the roadways at dawn and late evening when temperatures are at their coolest. Black ice forms when air temperature is 32 degrees or below at the surface and if rain is falling; the low temperature causes the precipitation to freeze upon impact. Sleet and refreezing snow or water are also culprits causing black ice.

• Eyes on the road. This type of ice can be difficult to detect. Keep a keen eye out for pavement that may look dark, wet, or like new asphalt. Bridges or elevated roadways, as well as areas that may have recently received rain or low temperatures will be more likely to have black ice.
• Know your vehicle. Driver inputs may not respond as well while driving on ice. Avoid over-correcting with your steering-wheel or panic braking. Make sure all items outside and within your vehicle are secure to prevent debris from flying around should you hit ice on the roadway. If you begin to slide on black ice remember: Don’t Panic. Don’t Slam on the brakes. Take your foot off the gas. Steer your vehicle in the direction you want to go. Wait for car to slow down and wheels to catch to regain control.
• Pay attention to other drivers. Other drivers may not be paying attention and may be unfamiliar with road conditions.

SNOWcreates just as much risk. Piles of snowflakes gather on the roadways and quickly create slippery road surfaces. Small snowflake flurries can make it difficult to see as well as buildup on your windshield.

• Slow down. If you see snow or buildup of snow, know that you may not have the same level of control while turning and stopping. Slow with enough time to react to any unexpected situations.
• Increase following distance. Braking ability becomes impaired even in the lightest snow causing your vehicle to take up to double the distance to stop. Leave at least 8-10 seconds between you and the car ahead.
• Don’t stop on hills. Snow can cause your tires to lose traction. This is worse when on inclined roadways such as ramps or hills. Going up a hill, try not to stop. Going down, go slow and make sure you have enough braking capability to stop safely, leaving 3-4 vehicle lengths between you and the car in front.

WHITEOUT CONDITIONS make it very difficult to see even a few feet ahead.

• Snail speed. Whiteout conditions are most dangerous because of your loss of visibility. It becomes very difficult to see where other drivers are and what they are doing. Driving slowly and cautiously is the only way you can ensure you have enough time to react for the unexpected.
• Increase your visibility. Whiteout conditions increase collisions because nobody can see anyone. Use your headlights and fog lights if you have them. If you drop below speed limit, turning on your hazards may be a good idea to alert other drivers. Use your turning signals to notify other drivers. If you are more visible, they will be able to see you, which may help prevent an unexpected collision.
• Stop and wait. If the whiteout conditions are too extreme and you just don’t feel safe driving. Follow your instincts and wait it out. Pull over into a shoulder of a road with lower speed limits or off into a parking lot. Run your motor every 10 minutes for heat and crack a window to avoid carbon monoxide poisoning. If needed, clear snow periodically from your exhaust pipe.

We know that you want dependability and quality when looking for a preowned vehicle, which is why our New York Used Car Dealers offer Straight Forward Pricing, No Hidden Fees, No Surprises, and No Sales Gimmicks. But we also want you to be safe while on the road! If your vehicle is not up to par for this Winter season, then head on over and let’s get you into a vehicle that you can rely on all Winter!