When the weather is bad and visibility is low, there are small changes to your driving style which can help you stay safe on the road. This article has some information to help. There are some people who are born to be drivers, and then there is the rest of us who need to keep our senses and our brains engaged at all times. And that's just to drive in clear weather!

Adjust Your Driving Style to Accommodate for Bad Weather

If you dread the idea of driving in bad weather and avoid it at all costs, below are some easy to adopt tips from Jim Ackney which can help you to stay safe on the rainy road.

Take It Slow(er)

Even if you aren’t somebody who immediately plants their foot on the gas pedal as hard as possible for the glory of beating every other motorist too, well, the next red light, there is still a little room for you to slow down. In addition to reducing your general driving speed, it’s important that you remember to slow it down when accelerating from a standing start or when using lower gears. During dry weather conditions, it’s fair to know just how your tires are going to respond to the road. However, when there is water, the conditions are dark, or it’s just straight-out raining, there’s no way to know what condition the road is in. For this reason, just take it a little slower than you would usually.

Speaking of Slow

It’s important to remember that it doesn’t matter how state-of-the-art your car is, you’re going to need a little extra time to slow down during times of bad weather. Why is this a tip and not a general thought? Because as vehicles become more sophisticated their manufacturers out new and complex safety measure including your car’s braking systems. This can often lead drivers to become a little too reliant on these features than they should, especially when it comes to driving in bad weather. With this in mind, just stay conscious that it’ll take you a very short distance longer to come to a complete stop, so maybe start on the brakes a second or two earlier than you would. Click here to buy AMSOIL Signature Series 0W-20 Synthetic Motor Oil which has been designed to help keep your engine clean and running smooth. Call Jim Ackney today at (780) 476-0545 to place an order or to find out more.

Watch Your Alertness

Driving when it’s hot out can often be an enjoyable experience full of energy! After all, the sun’s rays are shining down and keeping your alert. During the cold and wet season, however, these important Vitamin D says aren’t as active, leaving you more open to drivers fatigue. While this isn’t to say that you are going to fall asleep at the wheel as soon as you leave your driveway for work each morning, it is to say that you should stay a little more aware of your alertness when driving during bad weather and, if you can feel yourself losing attentiveness, pull over and take a short break.

Don't Stop on Hills

Do you remember the old comedy sketches where Mr. Bean would park his car on a hill and struggle to get going? Often he would rely on a range of antics to get the job done. It was definitely amusing to watch, and that’s exactly what other people are going to think if you get stuck in the same position! Keep this in your mind when choosing where to park when it’s raining. Even a slight incline can cause you trouble if you are stuck in a tight spot or the roads are particularly slippery.

Check Your Tires

Of course, you aren’t going to be going anywhere that isn’t sliding-down-the-hill if your tires can’t grip the road underneath them. A visual inspection in your own garage is enough to see if your tires need any attention. Look for the following:

• Any places where there is no tread on your tire (bald spot)
• Cracks in your tire or tread
• Any debris stuck in your tires

Any of the above can spell disaster when driving on the road during great weather, so be sure your tires are in good condition periodically during bad weather season. It doesn’t take long and can make the world of difference.

Give Your Car a Healthy Boost with a Synthetic Oil Change in Edmonton, AB Canada

Performing a synthetic oil change on your car is one of the greatest forms of vehicle maintenance you can do and can have powerful impacts on the operating of your vehicle. Speak with an expert at Jim Ackney by calling (780) 476-0545 to find out more about how a synthetic oil change can benefit your engine and which is the right product for your vehicle. Alternatively, feel free to check out the online store which has information available on each of the products in the AMSOIL range.