No matter where you live, people tend to be surprised at how quickly cold weather comes on. It oftentimes seems like it’s a pleasant autumn day on one day and, on the next, that the dead of winter has arrived. To make certain that you’re prepared for winter, keep the following things in mind about driving in the cold weather.
Longer Stops
Black ice is a constant hazard in the winter. This is a very thin sheet of ice that forms on the highways and that is essentially invisible. It’s a frequent hazard at intersections where cars sit idling for a long periods of time, causing the moisture in the exhaust from their tail pipes to freeze on the road. When you are approaching an intersection, apply your brakes gently and count on it taking a longer distance for you to stop than it does in the summer. This is the best way to make sure that you don’t end up being surprised by sliding through an intersection when you expected an easy stop.
Darker Days
Remember that it will get darker earlier in the winter and that this earlier darkness may affect your commute to and from work. Be prepared for a sun that is low in the sky and that may blind you when you are driving. You also need to be prepared to drive home in the dark, which means that you need to be doubly sure that all of the lighting on your car is functioning correctly. This is one of the reasons that it’s a good idea to get a tune-up and a checkup for your vehicle at the turn of the seasons.
Colder Weather
Even if it’s warm when you take off somewhere, be sure you have a jacket with you. It’s easy to take a jacket that you have with you off if it gets too hot but it’s impossible to put one on if you didn’t bring it. Smart people keep an extra jacket stashed in their car, just in case. Having a blanket or an extra liner for your jacket is also a good idea for emergency situations.
If somebody causes you injury or property damage in a wreck this winter because they were a negligent driver, contact an attorney. A lawyer will generally be willing to sit down with you for free to discuss whether or not a lawsuit is a good option for you.
