Loving your car, and adjusting your driving habits for winter driving!

     The machine of a dream, 
such a clean machine.
     With the pistons a pumpin', 
and the hubcaps all gleam. 
     When I'm holding your wheel, 
All I hear is your gear... 
     I'm in love with my car, 
gotta feel for my automobile. 
     - Queen.

The relationships we have with our automobiles can be very similar with the relationships we have with each other. There is the happily married vehicle that meets your needs and that you're thankful for, the lemon that needs to be gotten rid of, and lots in between.

No matter how you and your car feel about each other, though, driving through the winter demands adjustments to your habits. One of the most over-looked winter safety hazards is our own personal temperaments. The key? Don't rush.

Just as it takes you a little while to warm up when you crawl out of bed on a cold winter's day, your car needs a minute or two to warm up so it can be driven safely. After starting the car, put on the defroster, and clean all the ice and snow off. The engine will be warmed up enough to drive it by the time you have good visibility through all windows. Computer-controlled, fuel-injected engines will warm up more quickly once you start driving. But start off slowly down the road and avoid rapid acceleration, because it takes a typical vehicle approximately four miles of driving to warm up the wheel bearings, steering, suspension, transmission and tires. Remember to clean the snow off your shoes so they won't slip off the pedals.

Wear comfortable clothing that doesn't restrict your movements while at the wheel. If you insist on not wearing winter boots, hat or gloves throw them in the back seat, just in case you find yourself broken down or stuck in a snow bank. And while you're at it, make sure you have an ice scraper, snow brush, small shovel, sand or kitty litter for traction aide, tow rope, road flares, flashlight and batteries, a blanket and some energy food and water.

In the winter it is very important to keep the gas tank as full as possible, especially at night. When there is more air then liquid in the tank, it will fill with condensation, and can lead to frozen fuel lines and difficulty starting in the cold. The less space in the tank, the less area in which condensation can form. In fact, running your car regularly on less than a quarter tank of fuel in any season reduces the life of your fuel pump, which is usually located inside the tank and can be expensive to replace.

Don't wash your car when it's below freezing: the doors, windows, wipers and locks may freeze! But do wash the salt off the body and underbody on a regular basis. The salt sticks to nooks and crannies and turns the metal to rust and rots it away, even in places you can't see.

Make sure you have an adequate amount of windshield washer fluid in the reservoir and that it is rated in the -20o C temperature range. And please, for the safety of all: don't slack on using your wipers. Clear the glass often so that you can see the road with 20/20 vision.

When you're traveling on the highway and the roads are slippery, do not use your cruise control. You need to be in full control at all times. Stay in the right-hand lane except when passing and use turn signals when changing lanes. Always buy the best snow tires you can afford (the cheapest snow tires are better than the best all season tires), and put them on all four wheels, not just the front. Lengthen your following distance behind the vehicle ahead of you. Stopping distance is double on a slippery road compared to stopping on a dry road, even if your car has anti-lock brakes.

Drive with your low-beam headlights on. They are brighter than the running lights, and having the headlights on activates the tail lights which makes your vehicle more visible from behind. It is a good idea to have your headlights aimed periodically. You will see more accurately and avoid blinding drivers traveling in the opposite direction.

Check out travel and road conditions before heading out. If you live in my state of Vermont, you can call 1-800-ICY-ROAD (429-1623) to find out what the road conditions are. If you live somewhere else, call the appropriate number for your area. Don't take unnecessary chances. If the weather is bad give yourself extra time to get there, or wait until conditions improve before you leave.

Slippery roads alone do not cause the many collisions we see on our travels. The key to safe and skillful driving in the winter is driving at safe speeds at all times and avoiding sudden starts and stops. Continually being alert and courteous as well as using good defensive driving skills will help to keep you and your car safe and sound.

Happy Motoring,

Amy