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| 2011/01/23 23:22:08瀏覽264｜回應0｜推薦0 | |
Nine bad winter driving habits to avoid . Following too closely Need we say more? Anyone who's attended driving school knows that you should keep a three-second distance between you and the car in front. So why shouldn't this rule apply in the winter? If anything, you should increase the distance. The reason is simple: even with winter tires, braking distances are greater on slippery and cold roads. Driving aggressively When driving in winter, it's important to stay cool, calm and collected. Sudden movements can be dangerous. If you must take a sharp corner or pass, do it carefully and slowly. Don't be in a hurry either. Why? A flick of the steering wheel or a stab of the accelerator pedal could cause your tires to break traction and lead to a skid. Using cruise control Chances are you've been involved in a situation like this: You're driving along what seems like a dry road, only to come across an isolated slippery patch, such as a sole frozen-over puddle. It's because of cases like this we recommend not using cruise control, as it cannot detect changes in road surfaces. A sudden loss of traction could cause one or more wheels to slip, causing your car to skid, or lose control. As a rule of thumb, always be aware of road conditions as they can change rapidly with weather and temperature. Being able to instantly lift off the gas is tremendously important in maintaining control of your vehicle. Driving with an empty gas tank There are two reasons why it's not wise to drive a car with a near-empty gas tank. First, condensation is more likely form in the fuel tank, which can cause starting and operating troubles. Second, if you must drive in blizzard-like conditions, an empty gas tank could be very costly. Traffic delays are often greater with bad winter weather; what might otherwise be a short journey may become long and you could very well run out of fuel. Also, if your car breaks down and you're stuck on the side of the road, you'll need fuel in your gas tank to keep the interior warm. Locking your brakes Braking in winter requires the driver to adapt to road conditions. Today, most new automobiles are equipped with ABS (anti-lock braking system), which prevents the wheels from locking up on slick surfaces. If one or more wheels begins to lock during hard braking, the system prevents those wheels from skidding by pulsating the brakes several times per second, allowing the driver to both slow down and steer. When ABS is active, you'll hear and feel a rumbling sound coming from the vehicle - while this may startle you, whatever you do, don't let off the pedal! If your vehicle is not equipped with this feature, it's important to brake firmly without locking the wheels. This is called threshold braking. You want to do everything you can to avoid locking the wheels, as you'll not only skid, but you'll also lose your ability to steer around obstacles. Flooring the gas to get unstuck f you end up stuck, the one thing you shouldn't do is floor it; putting pedal to metal will only cause the car's tires to dig in deeper. To escape, it's best to press lightly on the gas pedal while in second gear (for both automatic and manual cars). Make sure your front wheels are pointed straight, and if you can get helpers to lend a push, you'll be out in no time. Driving an igloo Winter is the season when the igloo driver is most often out and about. This breed of motorist isn't an endangered species, rather an endangering one. Rather than take the time to all the snow and ice off their vehicle's roof, trunk and hood, they'll head out, anticipating that the snow will fall off on its own. The problem is that this is downright dangerous. Blowing snow not only reduces the visibility of others on the road, but it can also reduce your own visibility. And never underestimate the damage that chunks of ice or hard snow can do to another motorists' car. Driving fast on a bridge Bridges and overpasses represent a real danger in winter as their road surfaces are prone to temperature fluctuations - in colder weather, a bridge's roadway is more likely to form ice than a standard roadway. We recommend thinking ahead as much as possible. If you're traversing a bridge, trek lightly - keep your speed steady, and avoid any sudden applications of throttle. Small patches of black ice can easily form and are effectively invisible to the driver. Furthermore, if the bridge happens to be over water, there is an added risk of additional ice formation on the roadway above due to condensation. Getting out of the vehicle and shoveling aggressively If you have followed all the above pointers and still find yourself stuck in a snow bank, treat it as a serious emergency situation. Conserve energy and keep your body temperature up; the last thing you want to do is furiously try to shovel yourself out of such a mess. In this situation, it's wiser to wait patiently for help and try to stay warm. Put your hazards on, and call for help with a cell phone. A candle could save your life as the heat it produces can keep the interior of the car from freezing. Be sure to periodically start the engine, and keep yourself warm by bringing along extra blankets. Article From: http://autos.ca.msn.com/specials/winter-driving-guide/gallery.aspx?cp-documentid=27288037&page=1
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