1. Winter Driving Tips and Vehicle Care Be prepared for the inclement weather season!

2. 2 Recognize The Risks Before leaving consider the following – Is the trip absolutely necessary? – Even though weather conditions may seem acceptable at your location they may vary as you get out into open areas and as you travel further. –Listen to and believe weather reports. –Allow extra time to get to your destination. –Let a family member or a friend know where you are going and when you expect to arrive.

3. 3 Recognize The Risks During your trip –Check in periodically with the person that you have informed of your trip. –Keep windows and lights clear of snow and ice. –Avoid sudden starts and stops as this can cause skids. –If visibility gets too bad pull off of the road, stop in a safe area and put on your emergency flashers. CAUTION: do not stop on the road as someone may not be able to see your parked vehicle until it is too late. Remember. Do not make the trip unless it is absolutely necessary.

4. 4 Clean Snow and Ice off Your Vehicle Before Starting any Trip Clear off the entire vehicle, not just a peep hole. You need just as much, if not more, visibility in poor conditions. Make sure every glass surface is clear and transparent by using a snow brush and/or ice scrapper. Your side-view mirrors and all lights should be brushed and cleared as well. Clean off the rest of your vehicle. why? −Snow remaining could slide off your roof and cover your windshield as your slowing down, or fly into someone else’s windshield and possibly causing them to crash into you. −If that is not enough reason, It’s the law in many states that your vehicle must be clear of snow and ice.

5. 5 Practice Safe Handling of Your Vehicle. Drive to road conditions. Slow down when necessary. Keep both hands free and on the steering wheel as you may need to make a controlled maneuver. Test your braking distance periodically when safe to do so. Don’t overestimate your ABS brakes. In some cases they will increase stopping distance. If you need to pull over or stop, do this in a slow controlled manner and pull over to a safe area. It is best to pull right off the road if possible. Front wheel drive vehicles will handle differently on snow and ice than rear wheel drive vehicles. Four wheel drive vehicles have better traction on ice and snow. Don’t be fooled, in a uncontrolled skid, a 4X4 stopping distance is no better than a 2 wheel drive vehicle.

6. 6 Sharpening Your Skills in Managing the Brake, Accelerator and Steering Wheel. Intersections Even two inches of snow can turn intersections into crash zones. Slow down before approaching an intersection. Scan left and right for pedestrians and cars on cross streets. If you’re having trouble stopping, they probably will too. Hills When approaching an icy hill, pick a path that will allow the most traction. Watch the cars ahead of you, and steer clear of spots where they spin their wheels or slide backward. Instead, head for unpacked snow or powder, where you’ll get a better grip. Build speed gradually while you’re on level ground. If you have shift-on-the-fly four- wheel drive, shift into it before you reach the hill. After you have reached the crest, begin your descent slowly, shifting into a lower gear to allow engine drag rather than brakes to reduce your speed.

7. 7 Sharpening Your Skills in Managing the Brake, Accelerator and Steering Wheel. (continued) Curves To maintain control, you must reduce your speed before you enter an icy curve. Any sudden acceleration or deceleration while you’re turning may send you into a skid. BEWARE OF BLACK ICE: It will be more prevalent at around freezing temperature where snow has a chance to melt and then freeze on the road or rain changes to ice on the road.

8. 8 Limited Daylight Driving At this time of the year we are faced with a lot of night time driving. Not only is it a higher hazard due to visibility but to add to this hazard we encounter a lot of wildlife activity on the roads. Added precautions to take may include: Slowing down! Be well rested. Keep headlights clean and free of frost. Also keep windshield clean, both inside and out. Keep your dash lights dimmed to improve outside visibility. Plan your trip. Travel the safest route and try to plan to travel during daylight hours. Proper journey management is essential. Continuously scan the sides of the road for indications of wildlife. Think about the wildlife on the side of the road, there is a good chance that they may dart across the road at the last minute.

9. 9 Your Winter Travel Kit Battery Jumper Cables First Aid Kit Flashlight and batteries Water Aerosol Windshield deicer Candle and matches Charged cell phone, transistor radio Flares or reflectors Tool Kit Sleeping bag or blanket Food Supply of high-calorie, non-perishables (canned nuts, candy, nutrition bars). Bag of sand, Cat litter Extra Winter Clothing Windshield scraper Shovel

10. 10 Have Your Vehicle Serviced Now Under The Hood Air Filter. Replace according to owners manual. Power Steering-Check fluid level for leaks. Belts-make sure drive belts are adjusted for proper fit and are not cracked, glazed or frayed. Check both sides of the serpentine belt. Spark plugs-If your car is approaching time for a tune up, replace the spark plugs. It improves starting in the cold. PCV Valve-Replace this pollution control device at least as often as you change the spark plugs Hoses-Check for leaks, bulges or cracks and make sure clamps are secure Battery-clean the terminals with a solution of baking soda and water. Make sure all connections are secure. Cooling system-Check with hydrometer or test strips. Change as required Windshield Washers-keep your windshield reservoir full

11. 11 Have Your Vehicle Serviced Now The Exterior Windows-apply water repellant to windshield and all window to keep them free of slush, salt and dirt. Doors, Hatches and Trunks-Apply silicon oil or grease to all door, hatch and truck gaskets to preserve the rubber and keeping them from freezing. Tires and Brakes-Inspect tires and air pressure. Have a mechanic inspect your brakes. Locks and Hinges-A graphite-based or synthetic lubricant is recommended for all locks. Oil the hinges on doors and truck latches. Lights and Light Bulbs- Pre trip your vehicle checking that all lights are operational. If not, have light or bulb replaced immediately.

12. 12 For a Safe and Incident Free Journey Remember The Smith Keys Aim High In Steering Get the Big Picture Keep Your Eyes Moving Leave Yourself An Out Make Sure They See You