5 Tips for Staying Safe When Driving in Extreme Weather

Georgia isn't known for its heavy snowfall, but Georgia residents still need to master the fundamentals of winter car care. For one thing, they may drive their cars, trucks, or SUVs to colder places. Another possibility is that there will be a colder-than-average Georgia winter that brings an unexpected amount of snow and ice. When vehicle owners take good care of the cars during the cooler months, they'll boost safety and keep their rides in great condition for longer. Warm Your Car Engine Overnight Blizzards aren't a common event in The Peach State, but freezing rain and up to five inches of snow per year are possibilities, especially in mountainous regions, such as Gilmer and Pickens. If winter temperatures plunge below -15 C, you should utilize a block heater. Plug your auto in overnight to keep its engine warmed up. When you do, you'll find that it starts easily in the morning. more Remove Leaves and Other Debris When it comes to your home, removing leaves and other debris stops gutters from getting clogged. The same principle applies with your vehicle. If it's a windy day or night, leaves or other debris may get caught in parts of your car and trigger rust and/or leaks. So, inspect your vehicle and get rid of anything that shouldn't be there. Don't Forget to Add Winter Tires To stay safe on the roads when the weather gets chilly, put winter tires on your vehicle. Don't skip this important step, as your existing tires may not be up to winter road conditions. While all-weather tires are good enough most of the time, given the climate, do you really want to take a chance? Winter tires will be better choices when there's freezing rain or other road hazards. Make Sure The Fuel Tank Is Half-Full When you keep the fuel tank at least half-full during winter, you'll greatly minimize the risk of running out of gas during a bad-weather situation. No one wants to get stranded when the wind is howling and it's really cold. Another advantage to having a fairly full gas tank is that the fuel in the tank is less likely to freeze when condensation crops up. Don't Skimp On Routine Maintenance When it starts getting colder, you should get a mechanic to inspect your vehicle. This type of routine maintenance can save your life. If you have a valid warranty, it'll also ensure that your warranty stays in force. Choose a reputable mechanic who understands your make and model inside and out. If your vehicle needs repairs, get that taken care of as soon as you can. Winter isn't the time to let repairs slide. You need to know that your car is one hundred percent safe to drive. These tips will help you to keep your vehicle in tip-top condition all winter long. If you dream of a better ride, which makes it easier to enjoy the winter season in premium comfort and safety, why not take a new or used auto for a test drive today? Image via Pixabay.com

A vehicle's transmission is the system that enables the vehicle to change gears at different speeds. The transmission is an essential component of the vehicle and must be taken care of to ensure the vehicle functions properly. Check out these five tips for keeping your automatic transmission up and running. Schedule Regular Maintenance With any vehicle, it's important to always schedule routine vehicle maintenance. Keeping your vehicle on a consistent maintenance schedule is the only way to make sure that all vehicle fluids are filled to the appropriate levels and that your vehicle is performing as it should. Let the professionals run a checkup on your vehicle every so often just in case there are any problems. With regularly scheduled maintenance, potential problems could be caught early on, saving you money on repairs in the long run. more Check the Transmission Fluid It's important to have the transmission fluid checked periodically. Similar to checking the vehicle's oil, all you have to do is pull out the dipstick, wipe it clean, put it back in, wait a moment, and then pull it out to check the fluid level. You'll also need to check if the fluid is dark or smells bad, as this could be a sign of a more serious problem. Get the Engine Cooling System Serviced The cooling system is vital to the vehicle, as it helps prevent the engine from overheating and helps cool down the transmission fluid. In order to keep all parts of the vehicle in good working order, it's best to have the vehicle's engine cooling system serviced every so often. Transmission and engine repairs can be incredibly expensive, so it's a good idea to keep everything under the hood in optimal condition. Don't Change Gears While the Car is Moving It's harmful to the vehicle if you change gears while the car is still moving because it puts excess strain on the transmission. To take care of your automatic transmission, be sure the vehicle is at a complete stop before you change gears. For example, you want the car to be completely stopped before you switch from reverse to drive. Preventative Maintenance There are some preventative maintenance steps that you can follow to keep your vehicle's transmission healthy. First, have your transmission inspected by a professional annually. The service professional will check the transmission for leaking or other problems and will also check the transmission fluid's level, color, and smell. Second, it's better to let your vehicle warm up for a few minutes before you drive, especially in the wintertime. This is important because it lets the engine run and gets everything moving before you begin driving. Whether you're a novice or a professional regarding cars, it's important to learn how to take care of your vehicle so it continues to run in tip-top shape. With these tips, you'll be able to keep your vehicle's transmission in good working order for years to come. Image Via Flickr by Daniel Hartwig under use of CC BY 2.0

Researchers suggest that driving while tired is similar to driving drunk. You lose some control of your vehicle and may not be able to drive defensively to prevent accidents from taking place. To stay safe on the road, it's important that you try to avoid driver fatigue whenever possible. Here are some tips to help you avoid driver fatigue and promote a safer driving environment on the road for everyone. Avoid Driving When You're Tired This may seem obvious, but you should avoid driving when you're tired. This means that you should avoid driving at night during times you're normally sleeping, as well as driving when you're in that 3 p.m. tired slump during the workday. If driving through the night to miss traffic on a long road trip seems like a good idea, consider that it's more dangerous to drive while you're sleepy. Try to avoid driving during these times, even if it means taking a break for 30 minutes to rest. more Pull Over If you're too tired to drive, pull over to somewhere safe and take a nap. A 20-minute nap is often referred to as a “power nap” for a reason. It's overall a smarter idea to pull over if you're drifting into a different lane or catch yourself closing your eyes while falling asleep. It is best to pull over to a parking lot at a popular place, as opposed to the side of the highway. However, if you cannot safely make it this distance, consider pulling over on the side of the road for a few minutes and stretching your legs. Consider What Medicine You're Taking Some medications can make you feel drowsy or fatigued. Any time you are prescribed a new medication, read the informational pamphlet that comes with it regarding possible side effects. Many medications that are known to cause drowsiness indicate it on the prescription bottle or have a warning about operating machinery while taking it. If you have any questions about whether or not you should drive while taking a medication, ask your local pharmacist for their advice. Be Selective About Using Cruise Control Cruise control can make a long drive easier by allowing you to rest your legs in a different position while on a highway going at a consistent speed. However, many drivers become less engaged in driving when they utilize their vehicle's cruise control features because they're doing less of the actual work. If you feel distracted, bored, or fatigued, it is not the time that you should use cruise control. Drive With a Friend Whenever possible, drive with a friend or a family member that you can talk to while you drive. While you don't want to look away from the road to share eye contact, an interesting conversation that's not distracting can keep you awake and engaged. In the event you start to drift off, the friend can make sure you stay awake. Fortunately, there are plenty of things that you can do to prevent driver fatigue. You should drive only when well rested, and be mindful of the medications you're on. It's possible that you're already doing some of these things to stay safe. Photo by angrykarl via Flickr | CC BY 2.0 | Cropped from original