IN Peters Township December 2016/January 2017 | Page 87

dome light on if possible. It only uses a small amount of electricity and will make it
easier for rescuers to find you.
• Make sure the exhaust pipe isn’t clogged with snow, ice or mud. A blocked exhaust
could cause deadly carbon monoxide gas to leak into the passenger compartment with
the engine running.
• Use whatever is available to insulate your body from the cold. This could include floor
mats, newspapers or paper maps.
• If possible run the engine and heater just long enough to remove the chill and to
conserve gasoline.

Tips for driving in the snow:

• Accelerate and decelerate slowly. Applying the gas slowly to accelerate is the best
method for regaining traction and avoiding skids. Don’t try to get moving in a hurry.
And take time to slow down for a stoplight. Remember, it takes
longer to slow down on icy roads.
• Drive slowly. Everything takes longer on snow-covered roads.
Accelerating, stopping and turning—nothing happens as quickly
as on dry pavement. Give yourself time to maneuver by driving
slowly.
• The normal dry pavement following distance of three to four
seconds should be increased to eight to 10 seconds. This increased
margin of safety will provide the longer distance needed if you
have to stop.
• Know your brakes. If you have anti-lock brakes (ABS) and need to
slow down quickly, press hard on the pedal—it’s normal for the
pedal to vibrate a bit when the ABS is activated. In cars without
ABS, use “threshold” braking, keeping your heel on the
floorboard and using the ball of your foot to apply firm, steady
pressure on the brake pedal.
• 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. If you can slow
down enough to keep rolling until a traffic light changes, do it.
• Don’t power up hills. Applying extra gas on snow-covered roads
just starts your wheels spinning. Try to get a little inertia going
before you reach the hill and let that inertia carry you to the top.
As you reach the crest of the hill, reduce your speed and proceed
down hill as slowly as possible.
• Don’t stop going up a hill. There’s nothing worse than trying to
get moving up a hill on an icy road. Get some inertia going on a
flat roadway before you take on the hill.
• 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. n

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