The National Safety Council and the University of Iowa, creators of the “MyCarDoesWhat” campaign, urge drivers to learn the basics of winter driving before they hit the slippery and snowy roads.
The campaign’s takeaways, which provide valuable information for tire dealers to use in their customer education efforts, include:
• Slow down; drivers need to adjust their driving in the winter. Drivers frequently underestimate how long it takes to brake and steer on slippery roads.
• Do not use cruise control when driving on any slippery surface like ice and snow.
• Remember that bridges and overpasses freeze first.
• Always look and steer where you want to go.
Several safety technologies also can help prevent or reduce the severity of winter-related crashes:
• Anti-lock braking systems (ABS) help drivers steer in emergencies by restoring traction to tires. Drivers should not pump the brakes when ABS is involved; rather, hold the brakes down firmly. They will buzz and vibrate when the ABS has activated.
• Traction control helps drivers accelerate without spinning out on slippery surfaces like snow and ice.
• Electronic stability control helps sense when a driver may be losing control around a corner or curve by stabilizing the car when it begins to veer off the intended path.
• Adaptive headlights meet changing roadway conditions, such as curves, to help illuminate the roadway during winter nights.
