I was exaggerating for comedic effect, I dont actually laugh and zoom by, burying people in a giant wave of snow. But since the effect is lost, here goes...
The biggest reason people get in collisions (notice I didnt say accidents. Accidents implies an absence of fault) is poor driving skills. Actual knowledge of how to drive in winter conditions, along with how to handle your vehicle in the event of a something catastrophic are critical.
How many of you know what ABS is? Do you know how it behaves? Do you know what to do if they lock up/go out on you? What is ESP/ETC, etc.. when it comes to skidding control programs? Do you know what they mean? Do you know how it handles and what it does to your vehicle? Do you have 2WD, 4WD or AWD? What is the difference and how do they behave on slippery roads?
The majority of people out there dont have a clue about the essentials to winter driving, yet they hop in their Honda Civic and go cruising like its no big deal.
Want some winter tips? Here you go:
-Brush your #####ing car off. Not just the windshield. Not just the windows. EVERYTHING. When you get a decent amount of speed up, that snow blows off and creates a whitout for the guy behind you. Same goes for your lights. Especially brake lights. I need to know when you hit your brakes. That would be swell.
-TURN YOUR GODDAMNED LIGHTS ON. Do I really need to explain this?
-Maintain your vehicle properly. Have good wiper blades, plenty of washer fluid and make sure they work. Have a new/dependable battery in your car. This is essential to starting and running it. My buddy works for AMA and the vast majority of calls he goes to are battery related. He opens the hood and sees a 10 year old battery that is encrusted with acid, and has been boosted countless times. People wonder why they break down in -30 weather on Deerfoot. Inflate your tires. Change the oil regularly. Make sure belts in the engine arent cracked. All these things are so preventable. If you have enough money to buy a car, put gas in it and insure it, then you have enough to maintain it. If you dont, take the bus.
But most of all, you need to know your vehicle. Like I mentioned before, you need to know how it behaves and how to handle it. Drive defensively. If Deerfoot is down to 60 km/h then so be it. Dont go whipping by because you havent skidded out, YET.
And before any of you ask what my credentials are or my expertise, here they are:
15 Years of driving professionally. Started driving for a job since I left HS, and have driven tons of vehicles. Civics up to 18 wheelers.
Not once getting into an at fault collision on the job. Ive put over 1,000,000 kms in vehicles (not exaggerating). No tickets either.
Driving 12 hours a day at least 4 days a week. Seen it all.
My safety record speaks for itself. This is a topic I have considerable knowledge on.
Dont be afraid to ask anything.
Last edited by Fluffy Bunnies; 11-10-2012 at 10:00 AM.
|