Avoiding Hazards When Driving in Cold Weather
For some people, driving in snow and navigating on icy roads is second nature, they grew up this kind of environment, and it is one in which they are familiar. I however grew up in the Southwestern desert city of Phoenix, Arizona. So as my first winter approached after I had moved to Chicago, I was a bit nervous. My Chevy Tracker, not a Chevrolet Cavalier, repair manual offered tips on the engine and the battery, but some of the other aspects of cold weather driving I had to live and learn, not without advice however, from those who knew what to expect.
My first experience with driving in snow, was not bad…as the snow had just started falling. I was on the Dan Ryan Freeway heading home one night and there were light flurries. The most that this did was to affect my sight, as the snow and the wind caused the flurries to swirl and I struggled to just not become hypnotized. However, when the snow really began to fall I consulted the Chevrolet pickup repair manual for items that I was in need of.
When driving in cold weather it is good to have a backup of supplies, such as extra hats and gloves. As well as traction mats, bags of sand or kitty litter, for extra weight as well as for use getting out of snowed in situations, and of course, the ever necessary window scraper. A GMC pickup repair manual I had read, also suggested that once you are finished driving through snow and slush, it is good to wash out the wheels of your vehicle with a high pressured hose. The accumulation of snow, slush and debris may cause your vehicle to ‘vibrate’ as you drive, adding to the potentially hazardous road situations. All of these tips helped me out on that first, and very scary winter driving on the streets of the city of Chicago.