3445 Main, Springfield, Oregon 97478 Phone (541) 726-8453 Fax (541) 746-7085 |
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Winter driving can be a very stressful and dangerous task. Perhaps the best scenario is don’t drive at all if you don’t have to. Unfortunately, many of us have no choice. For those inevitable times when you must drive in cold, slick, winter conditions, here are some basic tips and facts that may give you the edge.
Don’t let your vehicle warm up for more than five minutes. Any more time will waste a great deal of fuel. Always keep the tire manufacturer’s specified amount of air pressure in your tires and make sure that your tires are appropriate for you driving habits and conditions. A cellular phone can be the best safety insurance policy while in your automobile. You may be surprised at how affordable basic cellular service is. Items to keep in the car are: warm gloves, ice scraper, lots of extra blankets, tire chains, flashlight, and cellular phone if you have one. Make sure your vehicle has been inspected for cold weather driving. Keep your fuel tank as full as possible. Condensation will be at a minimum and the added weight will help maximize traction and handling on slick roads. Don’t use your windshield wipers until your windshield has been scraped or defrosted. This will greatly increase the life of your wiper blades. Keep at least 3 times normal driving distance from other cars on slick roads. When braking on slick roads always pump your brakes lightly. This will stop your vehicle faster than steady pedal pressure. If you have never installed tire chains don’t wait until you need them to find out how. Do a trial chain-up with someone who knows how or call us and we will demonstrate the proper procedure.If you have a four wheel drive don’t wait until you need it to try it out.
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