IN THIS ISSUE: Traveling for the Holidays
During the holidays many are visiting friends and family and need to travel by car. Whether for short distances or cross country trips it is important that one’s vehicle is maintained.
Here are some tips:
1.Make sure that car maintenance is up to date. Ensure that your brakes, belts and hoses, engine, exhaust system, fluids and filters are in good working order.
2.Check your car battery and make sure it can handle the load.
3.Replace wipers if needed and fill the wiper fluid.
4.Make sure you have a good quality ice scraper and snow brush in your car.
5.Check the heater and defroster.
6.Inspect your tires for tread condition and check the pressures. Rotate the tires when you get an oil change. If you live in an area with snow and ice consider getting snow tires.
7.Check belts and hoses for cracks and signs of wear.
8.Wash your car after a snow or rain storm. Dirt and mud can inhibit your vision and interfere with safety systems. Chemicals used to deice roads can damage your car.
9.Carry an emergency kit in your car. This can include including blankets, flares, a jack, a first-aid kit, flashlight, shovel, jumper cables, food, and kitty litter or sand. Have weather appropriate clothing.
The National Safety Council has some further tips for winter driving.
Before you start out:
● Clean your car’s external camera lenses and side mirrors
● Remove dirt, ice and snow from sensors to allow the assistive-driving features, like automatic emergency braking, to work
● In frigid weather, you may want to warm up the car before you drive
● To prevent carbon monoxide poisoning, never leave a vehicle running in your garage – even with the garage door up
● If the forecast looks iffy, wait out the storm; if you must travel, share your travel plans and route with someone before you leave
To avoid a crash the AAA offers the following driving tips:
● Avoid using cruise control in wintry conditions
● Steer in the direction of a skid, so when your wheels regain traction, you don’t have to overcorrect to stay in your lane
● Accelerate and decelerate slowly
● Increase following distance to 8 to 10 seconds
● If possible, don’t stop when going uphill
Happy holidays from OccuSafe!
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