tjmarticle_Winter-Driving!

tjmarticle_Winter-Driving!
By Thomas Mitchell

Once Again it has come to that time of year when driving to and from work can be a scary trip.
Go to work at 6:30am in a Chinook, dry roads, smooth sailing. 5:00pm on my way home that same day, black ice and slush, then the next morning it freezing rain.

There is a saying in Calgary, if you don't like the weather, wait 5 minutes.

Here are some of the thing I do in icy or snowy winter conditions to make my driving more safe.
I think they are easy-enough to do, so you are more than welcome to use them.

1/ The first thing I do is SLOW Down.
I own a Mustang so you know I like power in a car. I'm NOT a speed freak, but I like to get to the speed limit "right now".In the winter time, I have to put that power on hold.Refrain from spinning the tires. I don't spin my tires anytime, but then in the summer you have much more tire grip. It's like running my car on half the cylinders.

2/ I leave more room between me and the car in front of me.
It give me time to gently brake and not have to slam on my brakes.
Locking up brakes makes the car slide out of control.
Those couple extra car lengths also gives the person behind me more notice to stop, so they don't hit me from behind.

3/ I do this one year round. I pull to the side of the road and stop to use my cell-phone.
I believe that I need to watch the road, especially when it's icy or snowy to drive safely.

4/ Me car came with all-season tires, but I change them in the winter to winter tires.
Trust me, winter tires are far better than the all-season tiresthat comes with new cars. It's something to do with the hardness of the rubber.
Plus the threads are much more aggressive.
I'm going to change back in the spring, so my winter tires should last for a few yrs. They'll only be on my car around 3-4 months a year.

5/ I try to be more curtious to other drivers, such as, when I pass a slower car, I go farther down the road before pulling back into the lane.
Those little rocks that are put on the roads for grip, can cause road rage, along with the damage they do.

6/ I try to watch traffic farther ahead of me to see if trouble starts.
If I see brake lights come on farther up, I assume I'm going to have to slow-down or possibly stop.

7/ I leave for work about a half hour ahead of usual. It gives me extra time incase of trouble on the road.
You know that if you are held up because of some accident, you tend to hurry afterward to make up that time. Right?
So, having already allowed for that time by leaving early, I don't have to rush.

Most of this is just plain common cense and should be used by all drivers.
Please slow down, be cautious, curtious and have a safe winter.Remember The Lives You Save May-be Ours.

tjmarticle_Winter-Driving!
Thomas Mitchell