Cold Weather Coming Up For Colorado
Between now and January 6, 2018, Colorado is forecasted to get some snow and temperatures around 14°F. There is not a lot of snow in the 2-week forecast.
Winter Driving Tips
- Never drive while fatigued. Getting enough rest before a long drive is critical.
- Never warm up a vehicle in an enclosed area, such as a garage.
- Make sure your tires are properly inflated.
- Never mix radial tires with other tire types.
- Keep your gas tank at least half full to avoid gas line freeze-up.
- Do not use your parking brake in cold, rainy, and snowy weather.
- Do not use cruise control when driving on any slippery surface (wet, ice, sand).
- Always look and steer in the direction you want to go.
- Always wear your seat belt. It is the law in Colorado.
Snow Driving Tips
- Accelerate and decelerate slowly. Apply the gas slowly to regain traction and avoid skids.
- Drive slowly and increase your following distance. It takes longer to stop on icy and snowy roads. Increase your following distance to 8-10 seconds instead of the usual 3-4 seconds.
- Know your brakes. Whether you have antilock brakes or not, the best way to stop is threshold braking. 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.
- Leave earlier so you have time to drive at a slower speed and not feel rushed.
- 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.
- 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.
- Stay home. If you really don’t have to go out, don’t. Even if you can drive well in the snow, not everyone else can.
Rick Cline
All Access Insurance in Littleton, CO offers auto insurance, home insurance, commercial insurance, life insurance, health insurance, bonds, and more. Call us today for a free quote at (303) 932-1700.