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Car Tips and Tricks to Drive on the Snow

It's no secret that harsh winter weather can be challenging for drivers; thus, this post by Jim Ackney in Edmonton covers essential car tips and tricks to improve safety while driving through icy roads.

Like any other winter in Edmonton, snowflakes fall off the sky, the temperature drops, and the trails and roads get covered by snow. With all those factors at play, it's safe to say you would prefer to stay inside your insulated, warm house until the spring comes back. However, like most people, you surely must go out and hit the snowy road; thus, this post by Jim Ackney will share with you some car tips and tricks to drive as safely as possible in snowy conditions.

Keep your vehicle in good working order for the winter by adding high-quality lubricants to its engine, like AMSOIL's Signature Series 0W-30 Synthetic Motor Oil. Call Jim Ackney at (780) 476-0545, or visit AMSOIL's online store to place an order on the most reliable synthetic oil in Edmonton.

How to Drive on Snowy Conditions Safely: Car Tips and Tricks

Install Winter Tires

Having winter tires installed in your car is essential for driving through snowy and icy roads; after all, winter tires have four times more traction than summer tires, which improves your safety while driving through snowy roads. If you use all-season tires or summer tires during winter, chances are the rubber compound of the tread will harden, lose grip, and skid; hence the importance of changing them. On top of that, you ought to ensure the tread depth of your winter tires has a measurement of at least 4.8 mm so that you can drive with better grip and traction throughout the snowy roads. For improved tire effectiveness, check your tire pressure once a month to ensure they are properly inflated for the entire winter.

Make Sure to See and be Seen on the Road

In terms of safety, keeping good visibility when driving through snowy roads is crucial; that's why you must clear your windshield, windows, mirrors, and lights from snow, slush, ice, and any other obstruction. Additionally, make sure to remove accumulated snow from your vehicle's roof to avoid it from sliding off towards your windshield or flying off towards the road users driving behind you. It's also helpful to keep a winter washer fluid container, a snow brush, an ice scraper, and a shovel inside your trunk. The reason for this is that if a heavy snowstorm hits while you are driving and your windshield gets rapidly covered by snow, you could pull up at a safe place to wait for the snowstorm to stop and then clear the snow off from your car's roof and windshield to regain visibility. Now, seeing the road is as important as being seen by other drivers; that's why you must also keep your front and rear fog lights cleared and ready to be used when driving through snow or fog. At night, make sure to use your headlights and low beams.

Drive Slowly

As mentioned above, tires' traction on snowy roads is less compared to the amount of grip they get from a dry surface. That's why it's super dangerous to attempt a sharp brake or a quick acceleration on slippery, icy surfaces; in fact, those maneuvers could end up in a skid out of control. Now, to keep control over your car while driving on snow, go slow and smooth with your throttle and brake; also, make sure to go gradually and carefully when attempting to corner.

Besides reading the car tips and tricks to drive safely this winter, you must keep your vehicle in mint shape by giving it a synthetic oil change in Edmonton. For more information about the most reliable lubricants for your engine, call Jim Ackney at (780) 476-0545, or visit AMSOIL's online store.

Leave Extra Space

As you might know, following the car in front of you too closely can be dangerous, especially when driving through an icy road, hence the importance of keeping a safe following distance between yourself and the vehicle in front of you. Typically, drivers follow a three-second following distance rule to avoid tailgating. This rule consists of counting to three to follow the vehicle in front of you; for example, let's say you are at a red light behind a car; once the light has turned to green, you would count up to three to accelerate. This rule is great for favorable and dry road conditions; however, the number of seconds you must add to this rule increases to 8 when talking about wet, snowy, and slippery roads. By following an eight-second rule, you'll be creating a safe space between yourself and the vehicle in front of you. So, if you were to skid on an icy road unexpectedly, you would have enough time to avoid a rear-end collision and recuperate control of your car.

Keep a Survival Kit in the Vehicle

Last but not least, make sure to keep a winter emergency kit in the vehicle. This is important because you never know when you will be in the middle of a snowstorm or left stranded on the side of an icy road; hence, it's important to have essential supplies to keep you safe and warm. Here are some recommended items you should keep in your trunk: