Driving in the snow is no easy task. The car and the driver must be prepared for the icy roads ahead of them. Here are some tips from your Hicksville area Honda dealer to help keep you and your passengers safe this winter.
Tips For Driving In The Snow
According to AAA, here are some crucial tips for safe driving in the snow:
- Drive slowly. Always adjust your speed down to account for lower traction when driving on snow or ice.
- Accelerate and decelerate slowly. Apply the gas slowly to regain traction and avoid skids. Don't try to get moving in a hurry and take time to slow down for a stoplight. Remember: It takes longer to slow down on icy roads.
- Increase your following distance to five to six seconds. This increased margin of safety will provide the longer distance needed if you have to stop.
- Know your brakes. Whether you have antilock brakes or not, keep the heel of your foot on the floor and use the ball of your foot to apply firm, steady pressure on the brake pedal.
- Don't stop if you can avoid it. There's a big difference in the amount of inertia it takes to start moving from a full stop versus how much it takes to get moving while still rolling. If you can slow down enough to keep rolling until a traffic light changes, do it.
- Don't power up hills. Applying extra gas on snow-covered roads will just make your wheels spin. Try to get a little inertia going before you reach the hill and let that inertia carry you to the top. As you reach the crest of the hill, reduce your speed and proceed downhill slowly.
- Don't stop going up a hill. There's nothing worse than trying to get moving up a hill on an icy road. Get some inertia going on a flat roadway before you take on the hill.
Visit Our Honda Service Center Serving Hicksville
If you are concerned that your car isn't at peak performance as we head into the daunting months of winter, or simply want to make sure that your Honda is running on all cylinders, schedule an appointment with our service center, or contact us at our dealership near Hicksville!
