Yes, California is known as the state that rarely rains or snows, but there will come a time during the winter months when we’ll have to travel out of state bounds. Driving in heaps of snow can be challenging, especially if you are not used to doing so. If you’re not extra careful and skillful you can easily have an accident. If the need arises for you to cross state bounds here are some tips you should keep in mind to ensure your safety on the road.
Prepare Your Car
First off, you should make your vehicle is ready to handle the snowy roads. Taking simple maintenance/mechanical precautions can prevent an accident. If you are not experienced in working on cars than its best you seek the professional help of a skilled and trustworthy mechanic.
1. Make sure your vehicle has adequate antifreeze. Anti-freeze is what keeps the engine at appropriate temperature levels in various weather conditions.
2. Ensure that your wiper blades are fully functional; you may even want to consider installing a new pair just to be on the safe side.
3. Check your tires and make sure they are I good condition. Handling icy and snowy roads with tires with little to no tread is extremely dangerous. You’ll also want to check your tires air pressure.
4. Keep an emergency kit in your car at all times. Your emergency kit should include things like; first aid items, blankets, jumper cables and flares.
Driving Safety
1. Avoid driving fast in fact, it’s suggested that you drive under the speed limit. It’s harder to handle a vehicle going fast on slippery roads and it becomes difficult to stop when braking.
2. When it visibility becomes difficult, slow down and take your time.
3. Increase the following distance between your vehicle and the one in front of you.
4. If your front wheels start to skid, shift in neutral and you’ll feel the wheels eventually return to normal traction.
5. Beware of black ice that tends to form on bridges, underpasses, intersections and shaded areas.
6. If plow trucks are on the road, be patient and avoid passing them because they have limited visibility.
7. If your front wheels start to skid, immediately remove your foot from the gas and shift to neutral. Do not try to steer immediately. When the wheels start to skid sideway, traction will slowly return and then you can begin to steer in the direction you want to go. Shift the transmission back into drive and accelerate slowly.
8. If you happen to get stuck in snow, do not spin your wheels because this will cause you to sink deeper in the snow. Instead, move your wheels from side to side, to move some of the snow out of the win and gently step on the accelerator to ease the vehicle out. You may have to drive both backwards and forwards a few times to get the car moving. If you have a shovel available you can also remove some of the snow from the undersides of the vehicle.