Tips For Safe Winter Driving

During the winter, there are many occasions to stay off the road, safely indoors.  But when you HAVE to drive in bad weather, the experts at Peruzzi Nissan offer these helpful tips.

First, no matter your skill level, driving on snowy or icy roads requires extra attention:

• Go slow.  It takes longer to slow down on wintry roads.  On the flip side, give yourself some time to build up momentum before tackling a hill. Once you’re on that hill, don’t stop; keep steady pressure on the gas.
• Before a storm, always check that tires are properly inflated and that you have enough gas – just in case you need to go out (and let’s hope you don’t). If you’re in a situation where you must drive a long distance in bad weather, let someone know where you’re going, and give an ETA for when you should get there.
• Don’t spin your wheels – literally. Slow, steady acceleration is the best way to get traction on tricky surfaces. Here’s a bonus tip for winter driving: throw a bag of kitty litter in your trunk; it’s an old-school way to give tires help for getting off an icy patch.
• Never use cruise control on slippery roads. Don’t use your parking brake, either.
• Keep your exhaust pipe clear of snow or mud to avoid carbon monoxide poisoning. For that same reason, never warm up your car in an enclosed garage.
• If you do get stuck in the snow, don’t go walking around. Remain with your car. Put a brightly-colored piece of cloth in a window crack or on your antenna. At night, turn on the dome light. It doesn’t use a lot of juice, and helps authorities spot you in the dark.

No matter the time of year, it’s always smart to carry the following: road flares, jumper cables, a first-aid kit, spare tire with jack and tire iron, and an extra charger for your phone. A blanket and extra water may also come in handy.

If you’d like some more security of slippery winter roads, visit Peruzzi Nissan and see the full lineup or trucks and SUVs available with all wheel drive. The addition of AWD will make it much easier to maneuver your vehicles on snow or ice in freezing conditions. If you’re looking for a different type of vehicle, Peruzzi Nissan has over 280 new vehicles available in the Levittown, PA and Trenton, NJ area. Peruzzi Nissan also has a large selection of over 500 pre-owned vehicles of many different makes and models. Visit us today in Fairless Hills, PA to take a test drive.

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