How to Stay Safe this Winter

It’s officially winter in northern Michigan, which means it’s time to break out the snowmobiles, skis, snowboards, and ice skates. Winter in northern Michigan brings along with it a lot of cold weather, ice, and snow. Although the cold temperatures, snow, and ice are great for things like snowmobiling, skiing, snowboarding, and ice skating, the weather that comes along with it can make for problematic driving conditions. Driving cautiously is essential this time of the year, so below we’ve offered up a few driving tips on how to best avoid an accident and stay safe this winter.

Tips

Accelerate More Gradually: Accelerating slowly allows you to regain traction and will keep your vehicle from sliding.

Begin Decelerating Sooner Than Normal: On dry pavement, it’s recommended you slow down 3-4 seconds before you need to be at a complete stop. On snowy roads, we recommend 8-10 on snowy/icy roads. If you do start sliding, tap/pump your brakes to come to a stop effectively.

Avoid Braking and Turning At The Same Time: This will cause your car to get loose around the corner and potentially cause you to spin-out.

Don’t Use Cruise Control: Maintaining one specific speed is nice when you’re driving on the highway when roads are in good condition. However, by staying in cruise control, you cannot adjust your speed quickly.

Drive Slower: Makes slowing and turning much easier in slippery conditions.

Don’t Bounce From Lane to Lane: You should only switch lanes if you absolutely have to. If you are flying by other drivers and switching lanes often, consider slowing down.

Leave Extra Space Between You and The Car In Front of You: If the vehicle in front of you suddenly has to slam on their brakes it’s best to have extra room to stop to ensure you don’t rear end that vehicle. When visibility is poor, leave even more room between you and the car front of you.

Don’t Panic If You Start Sliding/Spinning: Don’t start cranking your steering wheel. Cars are meant to go straight; your wheel will straighten out on its own.

Traverse Body and Paint Center

If you are unfortunately in an accident this winter, don’t stress. The technicians here at Traverse Body and Paint Center will make sure that your car, truck, or SUV are taken care of. Our technicians have the right combination of knowledge and blue-collar work ethic to not only make sure that your vehicle looks like new, but to have it back in your possession promptly. We pride ourselves on fast turn-around times, having most jobs done within just one week! While your vehicle is in our shop, we have loaners and rentals available for your use.

Additionally, if you are in an accident and your vehicle needs to be towed, have it towed to Traverse Body and Paint Center – day or night. We are currently offering $100 off your tow if it warrants an insurance claim. This time of the year accidents are bound to happen. If you are unlucky enough to be involved in one, Traverse Body and Paint Center is the best choice to get you back on the road in a timely manner.