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WINTER DRIVING TIPS BeaveRun MotorSports Complex 201 Penndale Road Wampum, PA 16157 www.beaverun.com 724.535.1000 IS YOUR VEHICLE READY? Know your vehicle. Read your Owner's Manual and winterize the following: battery and lights defroster and heater motor oil – correct viscosity
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WINTER DRIVING TIPS BeaveRun MotorSports Complex 201 Penndale Road Wampum, PA 16157 www.beaverun.com 724.535.1000
IS YOUR VEHICLE READY? • Know your vehicle. Read your Owner's Manual and winterize the following: • battery and lights • defroster and heater • motor oil – correct viscosity • wiper blades and treated windshield washer fluid • antifreeze • Cooling system (thermostat) • belts, hoses and filters • tire pressure • brakes and brake fluid • exhaust system
TIRES, TIRES, TIRES • Four Winter Tires – Buy tires and rims • All Season, M & S are compromises • Long-wearing tires are too hard • Narrow & tall tires best for snow • Consider ice tires vs. snow tires • Consider minus sizing wheel/tire combination
CARRY ALONG! Stock car with basic safety equipment and breakdown kit including: • emergency cash • scraper and brush • rags or paper towels • small shovel • jumper cables • tow strap • salt • traction mats • bag of cat litter for tire traction • road flares or reflectors • sunglasses • blanket • gloves • boots • warm clothing • flashlight • extra flashlight batteries • food • water • first-aid kit • cell phone charger • wind-up charger • non-perishable snack food
PREPARE TO GO! • Full fuel tank • Full treated washer fluid • Check oil level • Check tire pressures • Clean windows and light lenses • Check cell phone and charger • Clean snow & ice from vehicle • Check weather and traffic advisory forecast • Back into garage/parking area
READY TO GO! • Be sure wipers aren’t frozen to glass • Let vehicle warm up as you clean hood, roof, trunk, glass etc. • Turn on rear window defroster • Recheck all lights, including turn signals • Turn on low beam headlights • Use seatbelts for all occupants • Clean out front of car
DRIVING TIPS • Plan for time to reach destination • Don’t be overconfident with all-wheel or four-wheel drive • Slow down • Do not use cruise control • Keep distance in front and behind – 4-second rule • Keep distance when stopped • Look up; look ahead; watch lights • Use only smooth and precise inputs • Be aware of bridges and overpasses – shiny surfaces • Watch mirrors • Change lanes in clear areas • Test the surface • Practice
TRACTION TIPS • Rear drive cars – weight over rear axle • If stuck, rock car gently. Do not spin in one place. Use traction mat or kitty litter if necessary • On hill, consider putting two wheels on edge of roadway • Use inertia • Use highest gear possible • If wheels start to spin on hill, ease off throttle, then resume speed • If rear wheels skid, turn steering wheel in direction of skid. LOOK WHERE YOU WANT THE VEHICLE TO GO • Consider turning traction control off
BRAKING TIPS • Brake gently – use toes & keep heel on floor • Threshold braking • May use ABS if you have it • Plan ahead • Brake steadily on hill – may not be good to downshift • Brake on dry pavement if possible • Don’t brake hard on black ice • Don’t brake in turn – brake in straight line • Use defensive braking – flash brake lights
YOU’RE IN A SKID! • Above all, don’t panic • With rear wheel skid, look where you want to go and steer in that direction • Open steering in front wheel skid – Use SAW! • Don’t brake or accelerate • Shift to neutral if possible • Declutch manual transmission
IF YOU’RE STUCK OR STRANDED • Don’t panic • Put out reflectors or flares • Use four way flashers • Avoid over-exertion or over-exposure • Stay in vehicle if you can’t move it • Call law enforcement personnel • Make sure exhaust isn’t clogged • Keep warm – use clothes and blankets • Crack window if the vehicle is running • Don’t leave vehicle unless you can see destination • Don’t sleep (or take turns) • Watch for rescuers
WHAT’S THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN AN AVERAGE DRIVER AND A GOOD DRIVER? • The average driver reacts to conditions and often ends up in a crisis • A good driver anticipates conditions and knows how to address them