The AAA of South Central New England offers these tips for honing your winter-driving skills:
– Avoid sudden starts, stops and turns. Accelerate gradually and steer gently and smoothly.
– Slow down. You will not be able to stop as quickly or maneuver as easily on slippery roads. Speed limits are set for ideal conditions.
– Leave ample space between you and the vehicle in front of you. A general rule of thumb is to leave five seconds to stop. Here’s how to tell whether you’ve left enough space: When the car in front of you stops, say, at a traffic light, count the seconds (“one thousand one, one thousand two …”) until you are behind it. That applies to vehicles with four- or allwheel- drive.
– Look ahead. Don’t focus exclusively on what’s happening directly in front of your car, but see the big picture, the things you will encounter in the next 20 or 30 seconds.
– If your car starts to slide, gently steer in the direction you want to go. Once the car is headed that way, straighten the wheels. The critical thing is not to slam on the brakes in panic when you feel a lessening of control; that will lock the wheels and ensure a complete loss of control. Coax the car in the direction you want it to go.
– To regain control of a skidding car, use a firm, steady pressure on the brake pedal. If you have anti-lock brakes, do not lift your foot off the pedal.
– Keep your headlights on, day or night. They make you more visible.
– Be extra cautious. There may be ice on bridges and in shady spots, snow may obscure lanes, stalled cars may be on the road, visibility may be poor, and others may not see or heed these tips.
