Be prepared for this winter season! Looks like it could be a messy one. Weather Advance Storm Center calls for the winter to start off quite fast which we have already seen with the past few snow storms that have crossed our paths. December and February we will continue to see below average temperatures and above average snow accumulation. January however, we may see a little bit of a break with some slightly warmer temperatures.
Infiniti of Ardmore wishes everyone safe traveling over the winter season and we have compiled a list of safety tips from a variety of sources including the Occupational Health and Safety Administration, The Weather Channel, Triple A, and the Tennessee Department of Transportation, for when you may have to travel in the snow. Our first suggestion is if you do not absolutely have to drive through the snow storm don’t! If that is not an option then be prepared. Make sure that you check the battery, tire pressure, and your wipers. Make sure to keep in your car a flashlight, jumper cables, snow brush and ice scraper, blankets, and warning devices like flares. Before leaving home, find out about the driving conditions by calling 511 from any land line or cellular phone.
Before venturing out onto snowy roadways, make sure you’ve cleared the snow off all of your vehicle’s windows and lights, including brake lights and turn signals. Make sure you can see and be seen. If you become stranded, stopped or stalled? Stay in your car, don’t overexert, put bright markers on antenna or windows and shine dome light, and, if you run your car, clear exhaust pipe and run it just enough to stay warm. This related story shows the importance of sticking with your vehicle and staying warm http://www.nydailynews.com/news/national/nevada-police-searching-missing-family-including-children-article-1.1542960. Also make sure to protect yourself by buckling up and using child safety seats properly. Never place a rear-facing infant seat in front of an air bag and remember that children 12 and under are safer in the back seat.
While driving take precautions and drive slowly. Give yourself an adequate amount of time to stop your vehicle and remember that quick stops can cause your vehicle to skid and slip. Don’t pass snow plows and sanding trucks. The drivers have limited visibility, and you’re likely to find the road in front of them worse than the road behind. Don’t assume your vehicle can handle all conditions. Even four-wheel and front-wheel drive vehicles can encounter trouble on winter roads. If your rear wheels skid…Take your foot off the accelerator. Steer in the direction you want the front wheels to go. If your rear wheels are sliding left, steer left. If they’re sliding right, steer right. If your rear wheels start sliding the other way as you recover, ease the steering wheel toward that side. You might have to steer left and right a few times to get your vehicle completely under control. If you have standard brakes, pump them gently. If you have anti-lock brakes (ABS), do not pump the brakes. Apply steady pressure to the brakes. You will feel the brakes pulse — this is normal.
Driving in wintry conditions can be scary and difficult so be sure to take precautions ahead of time so that everyone can have a safe happy winter holiday!
http://www.weather.com/activities/driving/drivingsafety/drivingsafetytips/snow.html
http://exchange.aaa.com/safety/roadway-safety/winter-driving-tips/
https://www.osha.gov/Publications/SafeDriving.pdf
http://www.tdot.state.tn.us/mediaroom/snowbuster/driving_tips.pdf
http://weatheradvance.com/preliminary-winter-2013-2014-winter-outlook/
Infiniti of Ardmore 