Truth be told, it’s not really that difficult to stay on the road in Vermont during the blustery winter time. Sure, unforeseen things such as black ice, sudden, violent snowstorms, and natural disasters the likes of the ice storm of the mid 1990s can make all the preparation in the world for naught, but with a little pre-planning and added caution, just about any winter driving accident can be avoided.
Since we’re in February in VT here at Handy Toyota of St. Albans and it has historically been one of the coldest months of the year here (though, and forgive me for jinxing it, this year’s been mild compared to others), we thought we would give you a winter driver’s safety tip blog to get you through to March and April when the (oh-so-looked-forward-to) thaw finally arrives with the birds and luscious green foliage.
For more on winter driving, be sure to check out Handy Toyota’s Winter Car Care Guide from earlier in the winter (please note some of these tips could overlap; that just means they’re good tips!) for a refresher on any of the content we discussed. If you think you need a tune up or some such, schedule a service appointment with our Toyota service and car repair technicians or send them an email today. You can also check out our winter tire menu sizes, pricing, and order forms if you think a little extra grip will make the difference you require.
Handy Toyota’s Winter Driving Guide
Part 1 | Prepare
Snow tires
Most people think snow tires are a must for winter driving. The truth of the matter is it depends on where you will be driving. Not only do you need to ask yourself this vital question, but what about the value of sound and comfort to your drive? A set of Cooper Discoverer Mud and Snow tires will do wonders to those of you bombing along the trails (or haphazardly driving around city streets, if that sounds like you), however some of us can get away with a simple set of Cooper all-season tires.
Contact your Handy Toyota service and car repair technician or master parts manager Ray Quilliam to get give an example of where you drive, how you drive, and what you want to be able to do throughout the winter. Our service and parts team will gladly explain the advantages of each tire.
Get your car serviced and perform routine maintenance
One of the biggest things that will kill a car is poor maintenance. It isn’t even just the obvious like having no oil in the engine; bad struts can kill tires, dirty gas filters suck down fuel efficiency, and gross air filters cause lowered fuel economy coupled with the potential, in serious cases, to damage our health!
But aside from all the loss of fuel economy (and money) and such, a properly maintained car is more likely to get you from point A to point B in the winter time – and that’s priceless. Check out our service menu composed of small car service, small SUV/small truck service, and large SUV/large truck service options as well as service intervals A, B, and C. To find out where you fit within the grand scheme of vehicular optimization, contact us today.
Keep your gas tank full
Imagine getting stuck in a snow bank during a 30-degree below zero snowstorm. You cannot move the vehicle, that much is certain, and luckily you brought a mini-survival kit (like blankets, maybe some road flares, etc.), and you’ve accepted the fact that you’ll be here for a couple hours. You turn the car on to stay warm, and notice the gas light is on! Oh S#*&!
Don’t let this happen to you. Always keep your gas tank above a quarter tank at the lowest point. In fact, I personally fill mine at a half tank (not only does it fill quicker and keep me from standing at the pump, freezing, it feels better on my wallet!). Anything under a quarter tank not only keeps you from being able to keep the car running in an emergency but can allow the gasoline to freeze in the gas lines and other internal automotive components.
If you really want to be safe, stop by the Handy Toyota parts and service counter and pick up a few-dollar-bottle of IsoHeet or whatever brand of gasoline anti-water/anti-freeze we have available. This will absorb any water that may have accumulated in your gas tank and keeps it flowing freely throughout the gas lines, ultimately preventing a low gasoline-freeze situation.
Dress for winter driving
It might sound silly at first, but a lot of accidents are caused because of overdressed drivers. Heavy, thick coats restrict movement, especially in the neck area, and heavy boots restrict your overall foot sensation, i.e. the gas pedal.
We’re not saying don’t dress warm – but when you can, dress warm and light. Keep a set of heavy boots, pants, and a coat if need be in your passenger seat, in the back, or something along these lines. Allowing yourself to move around freely, turn your head properly, and feel the gas pedal (along with the road’s bumps and tells) is tantamount to making it out and home safely in the winter.
Keep a winter driving kit… always
We’ve discussed this in previous blogs and mentioned it briefly above, but it’s really, really important: keep a “just in case” cache in your trunk at all times. From a first aid kit to warm blankets, jumper cables and tow straps, to road flares, batteries, water for drink, and even some sand, salt, and chains, the more prepared you are FOR the accident the more prepared you’ll be at the time of the accident.
Always, always, ALWAYS plan ahead!
Part 2 | Drive Safe
Ice covered snow tips
Don’t you hate when you see black ice coming or, worse, when you don’t? What about the ice that seems to be slipperiest when it’s covered in a light dusting of snow? Truth is, any time you can avoid driving on ice, the better off you’ll be. We aren’t saying veer into oncoming traffic to avoid a frozen puddle, but whenever possible keep to the snow. Ice is unpredictable, and not even the most rigorously tested, studded snow tires can keep you perfectly gripped to the icy roads.
Keep an eye on your car’s thermometer
Every car in today’s world has a thermometer somewhere, usually around the center dashboard or the rear view mirror. Keep a very keen eye on that thermometer!
As you know, water freezes at 32 degrees Fahrenheit, right? But what happens at 33 or 31? What actually happens at 32 is kind of a flip of the coin; since most thermometers aren’t sensitive enough to show 32.1 versus 31.9 degrees, a good rule of thumb is to plan on dangerous roads from 28 to 34 degrees. At 34 degrees you’ll likely see some melting on the top layer, but that melted snow/ice just acts as a lubricant for the danger that lurks below. Similarly at 28 degrees the melted snow/ice or wetness can just be freezing again, so be wary of this temperature range.
Test your tires… when it’s safe
You know those moments of Zen when you’re driving in a messy winter storm and there is nobody around? One of those times when it’s not super dangerous but you can still take it nice and slow because you’re all alone on the road? This is a great time to see what your tires are made of.
Keep in mind we are not advocating donuts, whipping the tail end around, or testing out the traction control on your car. But it IS a good time to go 5 or 10 miles per hour (pending safety) and jam on the brakes. Try this a couple times and see when you slide to get a feel for where that breaking point is between safe stopping and simply sliding. Knowing this threshold will also save you from an accident in many dangerous situations.
Drive gently
Regardless of what else you do, accelerate and decelerate slowly. Not only will this keep you safe but it will ensure that you can actually get where you need to go. At a hill, don’t hit the gas and hope for the best; accelerate smoothly and you’ll not slide a bit pending horrible conditions.
The same applies when you need to slow down, and this is where the brake testing from the previous item comes into play. It’s never a good idea to jam on your brakes, but luckily today’s cars will override this very natural reaction with smart braking and ABS controls to evenly stop you better. If you need to slow down and even the slightest tap of the brakes makes you slide, try shifting to a lower gear (either when downshifting a manual or shifting into D3 and D2 with an auto transmission). What this does is make your engine work harder to drive the same speed, and since these transmissions aren’t meant for high rates of speed they will effectively slow down your car… without stopping your tires like the brakes will.
Getting out of deep snow
The worst mistake people make when attempting to get out of snow is gunning the gas. Once your tires start spinning you’re not only digging into the snow but melting the snow and making it nice and icy underneath!
Instead, rock the car gently back and forth by tapping the gas and letting go… tapping the gas and letting go… and continue. Eventually your car will build momentum and pop out of the snow in a simple case of being stuck. You can also pack quick dry or “Speedy Dry,” kitty litter, sand, salt, and chains, and I’ve actually used my floor mats to gain traction… although that killed the floor mats.
And remember: if you’re in a ditch or really buried just call a tow truck. It’s not worth making it worse, freezing all night, and/or possibly damaging your car to save the $100 tow fee. Seriously, folks, we know the tow fee stinks, but repairing a car is costly too!
For more on our winter driving tips to success, email us today and ask us about whatever is on your mind. You can also get your car prepped for winter at our Toyota-certified service center, view our service menu, view our tire menu, or get the winter gunk off your vehicle with a professional car wash and detail service.
Chris Dugan
Handy Toyota
St. Albans, VT 05478
Okay… that last one’s a bit of a stretch as thankfully I’m my own biggest critic. Nonetheless for having been one of Vermont’s leading Toyota dealers in terms of pure informational output it saddened me to see how far beyond “decently kempt” the Prius Plug-in information page was. And I do mean was.
Most vehicles and their producers are understandably timid with a pending release date around the corner. Not the 
