Hazardous Driving | Wichita Auto Care

Hazardous Driving | Wichita Auto Care

Roads are icy and slick, so be careful if you have to drive and make sure your car is in good condition to handle the hazardous conditions. Tracy’s Automotive can help with that!

Snow that fell overnight in Wichita this week had some expected results – car crashes that closed roads and tied up traffic and cars that wouldn’t start. Yes, it’s that time of year again when most people would rather stay warm inside with a hot chocolate, or something stronger, than to venture out onto icy, slick roadways.

If you do have to go out, be careful and don’t become a road statistic.

“Severe weather can be both frightening and dangerous for travelers. Winter storms, bad weather and sloppy road conditions are a factor in nearly half a million crashes and more than 2,000 road deaths every winter,” according to research by the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety. “Drivers should know the safety rules for dealing with winter road emergencies. AAA urges drivers to be cautious while driving in adverse weather.”

AAA offers these tips for driving in the snow:

  • Stay home. Only go out if necessary. Even if you can drive well in bad weather, it’s better to avoid taking unnecessary risks by venturing out.
  • Drive slowly. Always adjust your speed down to account for lower traction when driving on snow or ice.
  • Accelerate and decelerate slowly. Apply the gas slowly to regain traction and avoid skids. Don’t try to get moving in a hurry and take time to slow down for a stoplight. Remember: It takes longer to slow down on icy roads.
  • Increase your following distance to five to six seconds. This increased margin of safety will provide the longer distance needed if you have to stop.
  • Know your brakes. Whether you have antilock brakes or not, keep the heel of your foot on the floor and use the ball of your foot to apply firm, steady pressure on the brake pedal.
  • Don’t stop if you can avoid it. There’s a big difference in the amount of inertia it takes to start moving from a full stop versus how much it takes to get moving while still rolling. If you can slow down enough to keep rolling until a traffic light changes, do it.
  • Don’t power up hills. Applying extra gas on snow-covered roads will just make your wheels spin. Try to get a little inertia going before you reach the hill and let that inertia carry you to the top. As you reach the crest of the hill, reduce your speed and proceed downhill slowly.
  • Don’t stop going up a hill. There’s nothing worse than trying to get moving up a hill on an icy road. Get some inertia going on a flat roadway before you take on the hill.

Hazardous road conditions aren’t the only problem drivers encounter in cold, icy, or snowy weather. Cold weather can also cause problems for your car whether it’s failure to start, faulty brakes, frozen wipers, low tire pressure, or other tire issues. If your car malfunctions – or doesn’t function at all – then it’s time to have a trusted Wichita auto care expert like the certified auto care technicians at Tracy’s Automotive repair it. 

While you’re at Tracy’s Automotive, check into our specials, like free road hazard protection on a set of four tires.

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Tracy’s Automotive is a proud dealer for Jasper Engines and Vogue Performance Exhaust systems.

Tracy’s Automotive is here to help you. If you don’t have time or feel you can take your car to the shop, Tracy’s Automotive will pick it up at your home or work. Then, after your car is serviced or repaired, Tracy’s Automotive will bring it back to you thoroughly cleaned.

Tracy’s passion for a better tire buying, auto care and auto repair experience drove us to develop the model of Tracy’s Automotive Tire Pros. Tracy’s has turned hard work and inspiration into a booming tire and auto repair provider. Now Tracy’s has three locations and serves customers all over Wichita and Goddard. Tracy’s is thrilled to be a part of your family’s trusted brands for all auto repair and tire needs.

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