With winter getting closer and the holidays in the air, it’s important to have your vehicle well-prepared for the cold weather and the snow. Severe winter weather can be dangerous and frightening for drivers, passengers, and pedestrians. Harsh road conditions, severe storms, and overall bad weather can wreak havoc on your car and cause accidents that could have otherwise been prevented. Let’s take a look at our top tips for winter driving this holiday season and know how to act in the event that you need roadside assistance in Vancouver.
Driving in Cold Weather
- Keep an emergency kit of extra clothing, some blankets, food, flashlights, a small toolbox with all of the necessities, medications and some ice scrapers. You never know when you’ll be stranded and need the necessities before roadside assistance Vancouver arrives.
- Ensure your tires are properly inflated before hitting the road. Having enough tread makes them more durable because colder temperatures cause their pressure to decrease.
- Make sure you have extra fuel in your trunk.
- Never use cruise control during severe road conditions or icy and slippery roads.
Driving in the Snow
- Avoid going outside during severe snowy winter conditions where you are snowed in – only go out if necessary.
- Drive slower than normal and keep a bigger distance than you are used to between you and neighboring cars. It’s better to be safe and take extra caution in road conditions which minimize the control drivers have over their cars. Increase your following distance with an extra 5-6 seconds so you have adequate time to stop when roads are slippery!
- If you can, don’t stop. It takes a lot more inertia to start and stop than it does to keep moving while your car is still rolling, especially in harsh conditions.
- When going up a hill, get inertia started on the flat road before you tackle the hill. Starting inertia right at the bottom of an icy hill will do you no good. If you get stranded, roadside assistance Vancouver from Aria Towing is right by your side and on-call 24/7.
Long Distance Driving
- Let friends and family know about your trip and the route you’re taking.
- Keep an emergency kit of extra clothing, some blankets, food, flashlights, a small toolbox with all of the necessities, medications and some ice scrapers. You never know when you’ll be stranded and need the necessities before roadside assistance Vancouver arrives.
- Always check the weather before the trip and delay it if it’s expected to be severe.
- Has your vehicle safety checked before hitting the road?
- If you get stuck, remember to stay visible until help arrives!
If you are stuck in icy road conditions this winter, Aria Towing’s roadside assistance Vancouver will help you get back on the road safely! Get in touch with us – we are on call 24/7.