Winter Driving Tips To Keep You On The Road:

Wellington County residents know all about snow storms, white-outs and bad winter driving conditions. Nevertheless, familiarity tends to breed contempt, and drivers lucky enough to never get caught sometimes become a little careless about winter driving. Slippery roads make winter driving hazardous. Experienced drivers should keep firmly in mind how to avoid skids on slippery roads and how to bring a vehicle out of one should it happen. Most skids occur because the driver is driving too fast. Skids can best be avoided by anticipating lane changes, turns and curves; slowing down in advance; and by making smooth, precise movements of the steering wheel. If your vehicle should go into a skid, do not panic. Here are a few basic instructions from the Canadian Automobile Association on what to do.

Rear Wheel Skids:
1. Take your foot off the brake or accelerator.
2. De-clutch if your car has a manual transmission or shift into neutral on a car with automatic transmission.
3. Look and steer on the direction you want the front of the car to go.
4. As the rear wheels stop skidding to the right or left, counter-steer until you are going in the desired direction.
5. Once the vehicle is straight, release the clutch or shift to drive, and apply the gentle accelerator pressure.

Front Wheel Skids:
1. Take your foot off the brake or accelerator.
2. De-clutch if your car has a manual transmission or shift into neutral on a car with automatic transmission.
3. Do not move the steering wheel. Wait for the front wheels to grip again.
4. When they do, steer the car in the desired direction of travel.
5. Release the clutch or shift to drive and apply gentle accelerator pressure so that engine speed matches the road speed.
 

Braking:
Be particularly vigilant of areas on the road where ice is most likely: shaded spots, bridges and intersections. If you don't have anti-lock brakes the most efficient technique for braking is the heel-and-toe method. Keep the heel of your foot on the floor and use your toes to apply a firm, steady pressure on the brake pedal. Don't apply too much pressure and lock the wheels. Should you do that, ease off the pressure, and re-apply the brakes (ABS), use the heel-and-toe method but don't ease off should you apply too much pressure and the brakes lock momentarily. The ABS system will release the pressure and unlock the brakes. No matter how experienced you are as a driver, you probably haven't had much experience in skid control.

That's why it's important to have clearly in your own mind, a few basic rules so that you'll know what to do should the occasion arise. Driving skills are important. But so is the mechanical condition of your vehicle. Eliminate many winter driving problems by making sure that your car is in good operating condition. Keep your brakes, battery, cooling system and ignition system in good repair.

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