Don’t Make Unnecessary Trips
You can’t get in a car accident if you’re not in your car. When the weather and road conditions are bad, it’s best to reduce the number of trips you’re taking. See if you can work remotely for the day. Avoid trips for recreation. Only go out for essential supplies. (Note: it’s a good idea to have some extra supplies on hand in Colorado so you can get through winter storms without needing to go to the store, even if it falls on your regular grocery day.)
Prepare Your Car
Make sure your car is in good condition for driving in snow and ice. Most important is your tires. These are going to make the most difference in your car’s performance for starting, stopping, and turning in snow and ice. Make sure your tires are in good shape. Consider switching to snow tires for winter, especially if you live in the mountains.
Also make sure your car has a good level of antifreeze, and that your wiper fluid reservoir is filled with a de-icing formula. Try to keep your gas tank close to full all winter long – you might be stuck in traffic for a long time and unable to get to a gas station.
Plus, it’s a good idea to have an emergency kit in your car in case the worst happens.
Check Road Conditions in Advance
If you do have to head out, check out road conditions before you go. Sometimes it might make sense to plan a different route than usual, one that sticks to streets that are more likely to be clear, avoids accidents, and limits hills.
Don’t forget that weather can roll in suddenly and change dramatically in Denver. Pay attention to the forecast and try to be in before the weather hits or be prepared for it to go bad while you’re out.
Clear Your Vehicle
Beyond that, try to clear as much snow as possible from the roof and hood of your car. This snow can get on your windows once you start moving. Besides, snow from your car can obscure the vision of other cars, which might make them more likely to hit you.
Go Slow and Keep Your Distance
This should go without saying, but you should go slow and increase distance between you and other cars when you’re driving in snow and ice. It can be frustrating taking so much longer to get home in the snow, but it’s a lot faster to drive slow than it is to get in an accident.
Avoid Abrupt Maneuvers
Avoid trying to do anything too suddenly in ice and snow. Accelerate slowly, brake gradually, and let yourself turn gently. Whenever possible, try not to steer and accelerate or brake at the same time.
If you find you missed a turn, it’s better to go around than to try to make a sudden maneuver, causing an accident. If you’re making a left turn, wait until the space between cars is wide enough to accommodate your slow acceleration.
Be In Your Best Shape for Driving
Winter driving takes all your skill and attention. Make sure you’re up to the task whenever you get behind the wheel. Don’t drive when tired. Try to avoid distractions or outside stress when you’re driving – the road conditions are stressful enough!
And, of course, don’t drink and drive, ever, especially not when the conditions are bad.
Why Choose Accurate Auto Body for Dent Repair
However, if you do end up getting into an accident, choose Accurate Auto Body for your dent repairs.
We are Toyota factory trained and Honda certified for collision repair. We also maintain I-CAR gold class certification, a testament to the quality of techniques we use and the level of training for our technicians. Our Focus on You Service™ system also means we offer guaranteed quotes and completion dates. We also guarantee the quality of our repairs. Our work is done right the first time. We can work around your schedule, and we will work with your insurance company.
To schedule a free estimate on your repairs, please call 303-344-2212 or contact us online.
