Safe Driving On Dangerous Winter Roads

Winter could easily create much of the harshest driving conditions of the entire year. And,

months between October and February top the list for car accidents, car damage and accidental

injury in the Wood River, Illinois area.

When the local climate plunges and the snowfall rises, it is very important for vehicle operators

to boost their focus on safety on the streets. With the correct planning, some protective driving

measures and a close look on the weather report, vehicle operators can protect themselves and

their automobiles in the winter season.

The experts on winter time driving incidents at Stock Auto Body CARSTAR in Wood River, IL

fix quite a few cars each year wrecked in wintry, frozen accidents. They provide vehicle

operators some useful information for making winter travel much safer.

Examine Your Field Of Vision:

• Be certain that any and all mirrors are clear and properly tweaked for visibility

• Clean your car headlights and look at the lightbulbs in all your automobile lights – front and

rear

• Add de-icer to your windshield wiper liquid

• Ensure that your windshield wipers are free from ice before you start heading out on the

highway – and look into upgrading with new flexible windshield wipers before the snow strikes

Get your foot off the gas and Stay Back:

• Try to leave even more distance between

your automobile and the car or truck ahead of

you for much more safety

• Stay away from cruise control on icy roads

• When there is snow or ice on the surface in

Wood River, Alton, Bethalto, or Edwardsville,

IL, drop the speed of your car to a safe limit

• Use cautiousness on bridgework, overpasses, and seldom traveled freeways since these may

very well be slick due to ice

• Use extra caution whilst driving on one-lane highways

Skidding Smartly

If your back tires slip...

• Bring your foot off the gas

• If you've standard brakes, pump them lightly

• If you have anti-lock brakes (ABS), do not pump the braking system. Apply regular force to

the braking system. You'll feel the braking system pulse — this is normal

• Steer in the direction you need the front tires to move. If for instance the back wheels are

slipping left, steer left. If they're moving right, steer right

• If your back tires get started on moving the other way whenever you recover, ease the steering

wheel toward that side. You might have to steer left and right several times in order to get your

car or truck totally under control

Should the front tires skid...

• Bring your foot off of the gas and switch to neutral, but be sure not to try to steer immediately.

• As the tires skid laterally, they will slow the motor vehicle and traction will come back. As it

does, steer in the direction you would like to go. Then put the transmission in "drive" or release

the clutch, and speed up slowly

Prepare for Snow:

• If your vehicle has rear wheel drive, put bags of sand or kitty litter in order to keep your motor

vehicle easier to control on Wood River, IL roads

• Pack up a snow day kit in case you get stuck. Critical items to include are a blanket, gloves,

hat, water, granola bars, flashlight and extra batteries, extra mobile phone battery pack, flares,

wooden matches in water-proof carrier, compass, a pair of scissors, rope and first-aid equipment.

• Prepare a toolbox for digging your motor vehicle out with collapsible shovel, 2x4 planks to

place beneath car tires, ice scraper and snow brush, reflective triangles, flares and outside

windshield cleaner

You can never be too cautious when driving a motor vehicle in winter months. Problems can

occur suddenly on slippery, frozen roadways, so driving slow and making the extra safety

measures can seriously make the difference.

If the adverse winter accident does take place, we encourage having a crash strategy in place so

you are not stuck on the roadside hoping for assistance. Stock Auto Body CARSTAR in Wood

River, IL features good, reputable repair service. Just call 1-800-CARSTAR whenever you have

an accident and they're going to send the tow truck, get hold of your insurance provider, arrange

for a car rental and repair your car or truck.