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Top Tips For Winter Driving

Top Tips For Winter Driving

NC – With Old Man Winter well on the way, motorists will again be faced with a slew of potential dangers as they navigate Canadian roads.

But according to autoTRADER.ca spokesperson and car expert Lacey Elliott, checking off three things when it comes to winter driving, can greatly help reduce the chances of weather-related collisions.

“For even the most veteran drivers, getting behind the wheel in snowy and icy conditions, means needing to pay all the more attention to what’s happening around your vehicle,” Elliott says. “The risk factors go up, but the good news is that, by taking the proper steps, winter driving is absolutely manageable, even enjoyable for motorists.”

Elliott says her top pointers on staying collision-free during what are sometimes treacherous winter months revolve around the need for preparedness. “You can often get away with a few things in the summer that are simply not the case when it comes to winter,” she says.

Tires are tops

“Installing winter tires on your vehicle should no longer be debatable”, Elliott says. As winter tires are made of a softer compound than summer and all-season tires, they are able to grip their way through ice and snow much more effectively, enabling stopping distances that can mean the difference between a fender bender or a safe stop. Make sure to get all four tires changed, and ideally before the first snowfall, as service centres and dealerships get extra busy and wait times become longer.

Visibility rules

“If you can’t see, you can’t drive,” Elliott says. “It’s as simple as that.” For motorists, this means clearing snow and ice off as much of the windshield and windows as possible, as well as the hood and trunk, and being extra careful not to forget the all-important side mirrors. “A good ice scraper & brush is essential in the winter, and need not be expensive, but something that will last the season.”

Make time to take time

Elliott says her most important rule of winter driving is to leave as much time as possible before heading out on the roads. “One thing I tell people, is to double the amount of time they think they need to get to their destination. So if it normally takes 30 minutes during regular conditions, give yourself an hour in the winter. You won’t be pressed to speed and your state of mind behind the wheel will improve immensely.”

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