Winter can be rough on cars and their drivers.  Even those of us fortunate enough to live in the moderate climate of the South must face cold and even severe weather on occasion.  Taking a few simple steps to prepare your car for the weather can make nasty conditions safer and a lot more tolerable.   Here’s a list of things you can do to make sure your vehicle is ready for the upcoming cold season, however long or short it may be.
 
Check your tires!  A good amount of tread on your tires will give you better grip than an old worn out pair of tires. Take a look at the grooves in your tires and make sure that the tire has not worn down to the tire wear bars.  You can check your tire wear by inserting a penny into the tire tread. If you can see the top of the Lincoln’s head, it’s time to buy new tires.  You should also check the air pressure in your tires.  Cold temperatures cause the air in the tires to condense, lowering the air pressure.  Failure to maintain the correct air pressure can result in reduced gas mileage, decreased tire life, and poor handling, which can cause you to lose control of the vehicle. 

Gain weight!   Not you – your car!  If you have a rear wheel drive car, or a car with high performance tires, you are at greater risk of skidding on slippery roads than those with front or all wheel drive vehicles.  Rear wheel drive cars do not have much weight positioned over the rear of the car and, therefore, not much pressure on the rear wheels to keep them from skidding.  In places where winter is an actual season, people typically solve this problem with snow tires and adding weight to the rear of the car.  In the South, you can skip the snow tires, but consider throwing a large bag of kitty litter in your trunk.  Not only will it add weight over the rear wheels, but you can place a handful of it under your tires to provide traction if you get stuck on a patch of ice.  But, don’t think you are off the hook if you have a front or all wheel drive vehicle.  They may work a little better on snow, but EVERYTHING slides when it hits ice!   Always drive slowly and cautiously in winter weather.

Get a Check-Up!  A mechanical breakdown during the summer is usually just a nuisance, but breaking down in the winter can be very dangerous. Your car’s engine performs differently during the winter, especially in very cold conditions.  Make sure your car is in top working order before cold temperatures hit.  Have your mechanic check the hoses, coolant, oil, hydraulic and transmission fluids.  Also check your starter, battery alternator & drive belts to make sure your electrical system is up to task of starting the engine in colder weather. 

Make sure you can see!  Inspect & clean your lights to make sure they are working properly, since you will be driving more at night.  Replace your windshield wipers, if needed, and clean your windows regularly to maximize visibility.   Put fresh windshield washer fluid in the windshield washer reservoir.  (Never use plain water, as it will freeze.)  Use a plastic ice scraper or defrost to clear your windshield.  Do not use your wipers, as this will wear them out very quickly.

Be prepared!  It’s not just for Boy Scouts anymore.  If you don’t have an emergency kit in your vehicle already, make one.  You never know when you might get stranded.  Always have a flashlight, ice scrapper, jumper cables, water, snacks, first aid kit, gloves, blanket & charged cell phone.  Flares can also be used to signal for help and warn other cars of your presence on a dark road.  Make sure there is air in the spare tire, and that all the proper tire-changing equipment is in the trunk.

Winter driving can be challenging, if not downright hazardous.  By winterizing your car, you are prepared for whatever weather or situation you may encounter.  Drive safely!

After a long, hot summer, autumn has finally arrived in the Carolinas.  With it come shorter days, cooler temperatures (finally!) and the beginning of the holiday season.  Although the holidays bring us joy and excitement at the thought of festive parties, family gatherings and delicious food, they also bring many driving dangers. 

You may have noticed that the sun has already set by the time most people leave work.  Between the decreasing daylight and numerous holiday party invitations, people drive more at night during the holiday season than any other time of year.  Yet, most people do not realize the dangers of night driving.  According to the National Safety Council, traffic death rates are three times greater at night than during the day.  Ninety percent of a driver’s ability depends on vision, which can be greatly impaired after dark.  Depth perception, color recognition, and peripheral vision are compromised during and after sundown.  In fact, twilight is one of the most difficult times to drive, because your eyes are constantly changing to adapt to the growing darkness. 

Another holiday driving danger is fatigue. During the holiday season, it is easy to wear yourself out shopping, decorating, and going to parties.  May people drive long distances at a time to visit family and friends.  The holiday rush can lead to exhaustion, which makes driving more difficult by dulling concentration and slowing reaction time.  College students driving home for the holidays may face a particular risk, especially if they’ve been sacrificing sleep for studying. 

Holiday party-goers should be extra careful driving home from those festive events.  While indulging in a cup of eggnog or two can be fun, it is important to remember that alcohol is the leading factor in fatal traffic accidents.  Alcohol also increases the risk of falling asleep behind the wheel.  When you are tired, one drink can feel like four or five.  Driving home from a party can be especially dangerous if you combine alcohol with fatigue.  Watch your own alcohol consumption, don’t drive if you feel sleepy, and be alert for other drivers on the road who may be under the influence.

You can further minimize after-dark dangers by following special driving guidelines and properly preparing your car.  Turn on your headlights as soon as the sun begins to set.  This will not only improve your vision, but it will also make you more visible to others.  Reduce speed and increase your following distance at night.  No matter how good your vision is, you cannot see beyond your headlights, so maintain a speed that allows you to stop in that distance.  Clean your headlights, taillights and the inside and outside of windows at least once a week to maximize your ability to see clearly.  Keep flares, a flashlight and a blanket in your car, just in case you have a nighttime breakdown.

The holiday season is the most dangerous time of the year to be on the road.  Increased traffic, reduced visibility, exhaustion and alcohol consumption can turn holiday joy into tragedy.  However, taking these simple precautions and using good judgment can help you arrive safely at your destination.  Happy Holidays!

Is your teenager taking Driver’s Ed, and soon will be asking for your car keys?  Or maybe your teen already has a Drivers License, but you are afraid if he/she will be able to drive safely and responsibly?  Unfortunately, your concerns are justified.   Teen drivers are at significant risk on the road, and parents need to be aware of these alarming statistics from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA):

• 14% of all deaths due to motor vehicle accidents are teen drivers.
• Motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death among 13-19-year-old males and females in the United States.
• Teen lifestyle of staying up late make teen drivers a high risk to have an automobile accident due to drowsiness.
• The presence of teen passengers increases the crash risk for unsupervised teen drivers: the risk increased with the number of teen passengers.
• Crash risk is particularly high during the first years that teenagers are eligible to drive
• Approximately 30% of teen drivers who die in motor vehicle crashes have been drinking alcohol

So, what can you as a parent do to keep your children safe?  The first thing you should do is select a safe vehicle for your teen to drive.  We all want our kid to drive the newest and coolest car out there, but that “image” can come with a cost.  As I drive around town, I see these young and inexperienced drivers in Mustangs, BMW’s and large SUVs.  These automobiles are big, powerful and difficult to control for even experienced drivers.  In the hands of a new driver, they can be deadly weapons.  Small cars can also be dangerous, however, as they do not protect passengers as well in a front end crash.  Your teen is safest in a midsized sedan with a four cylinder engine, airbags and a good crash test rating.  You’ll also save on gas and insurance costs!  (For crash test ratings, visit the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety website at www.iihs.org.)

Another step you can take to keep your teen driver safe is to monitor his or her driving behavior.  You ask your kids who they are going to be with when they go out and where they are going.  You call the parents of a friend who is having a party to make sure the kids will be properly supervised.  You make rules, set limits, and check up on them.  So, why not do the same thing when it comes to their driving behaviors? 

The NHTSA encourages parents to closely monitor and strictly limit their teen’s driving in the first 12 - 18 months after obtaining a license.  Limit where and when your teen is allowed to drive without you in the car, such as at night or in adverse weather.   Require the use of seat belts, and do not permit the use of cell phones or MP3 players while driving.  Limit the number of passengers your teen may have in the car when he or she is driving.  My parents wouldn’t let me have any passengers (except them) for the first 6 months.  At the time, it made me angry that I couldn’t cruise around with my friends, but now I understand their wisdom.
 
You may choose to invest in an Event Data Recorder or GPS device to monitor your child’s vehicle location and speed.  When your teen driver speeds or does something with the car you don’t approve, you will know.  You may balk at such monitoring as an invasion of privacy, but it could save your child’s life or the life of someone else.  Just be honest with your teen about the existence of the device and that it is for their safety (and your peace of mind).

Finally, be aware of your own driving behaviors when your child is in the car with you – even years before he or she is eligible to drive.  For better or worse, our children learn by watching us.  If you speed, tailgate or yell at other drivers, your teen will too.  The best thing you can do to teach your teen to be a responsible driver is to set a good example and be a safe and courteous driver yourself.