While a lot of the country has been slammed with nasty winter weather this year, the Piedmont Triad area of NC has mostly avoided it. However, the forecast for next week doesn’t look promising. In fact, some weather people are calling for as much as a foot of snow being dumped sometime in the Winston-Salem, High Point and Kernersville areas mid-week. If that happens, the only ones who will benefit are grocery stores, towing companies and body shops.
Yes, I said body shops. It’s no secret that most people in the South aren’t very good at driving in the snow. In their defense, it’s not their fault. They simply don’t have the same experience as their Northern friends. That’s why it’s important to share a few tips on driving safely in winter weather.
Tips For Driving On Snow & Ice
1) Make sure you can see out of your windshield. This sounds like common sense but like Will Rogers said: “Common sense ain’t so common.” Cleaning the snow and/or ice off of your entire car, including the headlights, is the 1st step but there are others such as making sure you have good windshield wipers and have anti-icing fluid in your windshield washer system.
2) Watch out for “black ice”. Yeah, it’s tough to see it but it’s deadly so driver beware. It’s also called “glare ice” and the name does it justice. Sometimes it looks nearly transparent, other times it simply looks like a puddle of water and sometimes it can’t be seen at all. Snow is much easier to deal with than this.
3) Make sure your tires are properly inflated. Remember your parents or grandparents checking their tire pressure every time they bought gas for their car? Do YOU do that? Didn’t think so. While you should check your tire pressure often, it’s a “must do” when snow and ice are covering the ground.
4) Don’t use cruise control. Why? Because it’s dangerous to do so when driving on any slippery surface.
5) Accelerate and decelerate slowly. Better yet, do everything slower when you’re driving on snow and ice covered roads.
6) Make sure you have gas in your car. At least half a tank is recommended.
7) Make sure you have your cell phone. You also need to have your cell phone car charger with you.
8) Make sure your car battery is fully charged. Frank Myers Auto Repair can help you do this for no charge. Simply give them a call at (336) 831-0656 or visit their website at https://www.FrankMyersAutoRepair.com to schedule a time to drop by.
9) Carry some basic supplies with you. Things like an ice scraper, a shovel, a bag of sand, blankets, bottled water and non-perishable snacks could go a long way if you are ever stuck in your car during winter weather.
10) Stay at home. The basic rule of thumb during bad winter weather especially in the South, is STAY HOME.
Of course, the weather pros are wrong more times than they are right so this information may be for naught. If so, keep it handy because the bad winter weather usually sneaks up on you when you least expect it. Until then, you better get to the grocery store with the rest of the Triad peeps. The milk and bread will be gone soon.
