Brockton in winter can really be beautiful. However, driving in snowy or icy conditions is often less enjoyable and at times downright dangerous if motorists don’t take the proper safety precautions. At Collision 24, we want our fellow drivers to reach their destinations safely, especially when having to travel in wintry conditions. To help you prepare for the unexpected, we’ve put together a list of best practices and precautions to follow when out driving this winter.

Get Your Car Ready for Winter Driving

Having a reliable vehicle in good working condition is important, especially during the cold winter months. Although you should receive routine maintenance on your vehicle year round, it’s essential to winterize your car to avoid dangerous driving situations. At the onset of winter, bring your vehicle to Collision 24 and have the following items checked:

  • Tires
  • Wiper Blades
  • Fluid Levels
  • Belts
  • Battery
  • Brakes
  • Lights
  • Cooling System
  • Ignition System

Depending on the particular make and model of your vehicle, our trained service technicians will notify you if additional inspections are suggested. If there is any maintenance or repairs necessary, our state-of-the-art facility will complete them in a timely manner.

Pack a Winter Car Supply Kit

In the event of a winter driving emergency, make sure that you’re prepared. Having a winter car supply kit stocked with adequate tools and supplies is essential should your car become stranded in the snow. Here are a few ideas for things to put in your supply kit:

  • Road Flares / Reflectors
  • Sand or cat litter for traction
  • Rock Salt
  • At Least 2 Blankets
  • Shovel
  • Ice Scraper
  • Flashlight and Batteries
  • High calorie, non-perishable food like canned nuts
  • Jumper Cables

Winter Driving Best Practices

When snowy or icy road conditions exist in Brockton, it’s best to stay off the roads until the weather passes and plow trucks have properly cleared and salted the roadways. However, if you have to drive, try these winter driving best practices to keep you and your fellow motorists safe.

  1. Brockton, MA winter drivingTake it slow. To regain traction and avoiding skidding, be sure to accelerate and decelerate slowly. Also, remember to give yourself more time for stoplights. It takes much longer to slow down on slippery roads.
  2. Keep a safer following distance. We’ve all heard that you should keep a three to four second following distance, but when roads are icy, that should be increased to eight or ten seconds. This will give you more stopping time.
  3. Inertia is your friend. It takes a lot more inertia to start moving from a dead stop than if your car is still rolling. Don’t stop if you can avoid doing so safely – especially when going up hills. Instead, for hills, use a stretch of flat roadway to build up some inertia and then apply a small but constant amount of gas while the inertia carries you up the hill.

No matter how prepared we might think we are, accidents do happen. If you’ve been involved in a collision caused by winter weather driving in Brockton, Collision 24 is here to help. We’ll perform the repairs you need to get you back on the road quickly and safely. Visit our Services Page for more information or schedule a service appointment with us.