It was just the other day that I was driving into work and when I made the turn off the highway, I was shocked. SNOW!!!!! Ugh!!!! In fairness a lot of us like snow, especially kids. Snow can be fun. Whether it is for skiing, going tobogganing, making snow angels, building a snow fort, going snowshoeing or even a good old fashion snowball fight, snow can be a great source of fun. While it might be fun to play in it, the reality of driving in snow is no fun.
With the fact that we are about to see snow for the next number of months, here are a few winter safety tips for driving.
Get A Set Of Snow Tires While it is not mandatory in the province of Newfoundland and Labrador, a lot of provinces are making snow tires a requirement. It is hard to argue that getting four snow tires for your automobile is a good investment. Winter tires provide significantly better traction than all-season tires, in fact, studies have shown that they can reduce your braking distance by up to 25%.
What Else?
Well, it might seem like I started with a no-brainer, most of these tips are common sense.
- Clean Debris from your Vehicle
- Use Low Gears on Hills
- Factor in you will need more stopping distance
- Look out for Black Ice
- Know Skid and Slide Recovery
- Don’t Drive Unless You Have to
Prepare For the Weather
If you have to go out (and hey let’s face it we live in Newfoundland and Labrador so it’s going to happen), then have your automobile ready for the adverse conditions.
- Top up your windshield fluid (keep extra in your car)
- Make sure you have a snow brush and scraper in your car
- Know the conditions – current and the future
- Have an emergency kit for your car
- A blanket
- Extra clothes
- A flashlight
- Battery jumper cables
- Some non-perishable foods such as protein and chocolate bars
- Take your cell phone with you.
- Let your destination know you are coming so they know when they expect you and can let others know if you don’t show up.
The above tips are just a few to make your life easier, but there are many more. I suggest you watch this video.
What About Insurance?
Face it. Driving in the snow can be a risky proposition, so it’s important to have auto insurance. Don’t be caught holding the bag, contact one of our Newfoundland and Labrador Car Insurance Experts at Crosbie Job Insurance. We will be happy to discuss your individual situation and get the right insurance for you. You Can Sleep Easy! We’ve Got You Covered!
Don’t waste a moment. Please feel to contact us for a quote. We are here for you.
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