5 safety tips when driving on slippery surfaces

Driving on slippery surfaces

In a city like Calgary, where the weather fluctuates greatly, slippery road conditions are a challenge. Ice, rain, snow, and wet leaves create a barrier between the road and your tires, more than doubling your stopping distance and increasing your risk of an accident.

To keep you and your passengers safe on the road, here are a few tips that will help you maintain control of your vehicle.

How to drive on slippery surfaces
How to drive on slippery surfaces

1. Slow down

Speed plays a big factor in slippery road conditions. The first thing to do when driving on snow, ice, rain, or roads packed with wet leaves is to slow down. As a rule of thumb:

  • Reduce your speed down to 5-10km/h on wet roads
  • Reduce your speed by half on snow-packed roads
  • Reduce your speed to a crawl on dangerous, icy roads
  • Never use cruise control on slippery roads

2. Get your tires checked

If you’re finding that you’re slipping and sliding more than usual, get your winter tires checked as soon as possible. Servicing your car at our Calgary auto shop will identify any issues that may compromise your safety on the road. When you schedule a tire service, our Service Advisor can determine:

  • The condition of your tires. If you want to change your tires then you can visit us too
  • Your tire tread depth
  • The condition of your brakes

3. Keep a good distance

You want to maintain a good stopping distance between you and the car in front of you. This will allow you time to react should the driver in front of you suddenly stop or veer out of control.

4. Turn slowly

When you take a quick turn on slippery road conditions, you risk your vehicle spinning out of control. Before approaching a turn, lightly tap the brakes and slow to a crawl when taking the turn.

5. Accelerate and stop gradually

Remember, any sudden stop-and-go is an opportunity for your car to skid and cause an accident. This also highlights the importance of getting your vehicle in for brake service in Calgary. Your Service Advisor will determine any issues with your brakes and make sure they are equipped to handle challenging driving conditions.

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