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www.oakvillebeaver.com The Oakville Beaver, Wednesday November 21, 2007 - 31 Winter driving tips Don't be caught unprepared for the first blast of winter weather which puts extra demands on you and your vehicle. Before the snow flies, have a winter inspection done on your vehicle to prevent problems. "Proper preparation and the right skills will help you face the challenge of winter driving. Handling your vehicle in winter driving conditions requires a higher level of concentration and an adjustment in driving style". Peter Christianson, YD President. Young Drivers of Canada offers defensive driving tips: · Ready Yourself ­ Remove bulky clothing that could restrict your ability to steer. Clean your boots to prevent your feet from slipping off the pedals. · Hitting Ice and Maintaining Control ­ Remember two things if you start to lose control: shift into neutral (or put in the clutch if you have a standard transmission), and take your foot off the gas. Then look well ahead and steer immediately to keep the vehicle straight. Once under control, steer in the direction you want to go. · Emergency ABS Braking ­ If your vehicle has ABS, first, step on the brake pedal as fast and as hard as you can. Do not pump the brakes. Maintain hard and continuous pressure to allow the ABS computer to do the work. Feeling a pulsing in the brake pedal is normal. Second, keep the pressure on, look for an escape route and steer toward it if necessary. · Threshold Braking (no ABS) ­ For threshold braking, the driver should apply the brakes hard but not quite hard enough to lock the wheels in order to steer and maintain control. · Essential Items for your Car ­ Include a long handled scraper and snowbrush, windshield washer fluid, booster cables, reflective cones, a flashlight, first aid kit, blanket and kitty litter for traction on ice when spread around the wheels. · Lights On ­ Regardless of the time of day, cut your chance of crashing by up to 20 per cent by using your full low-beam headlights. Most automatic headlight systems and daytime running lights do not activate the rear lights during daylight hours so turn on your low-beam headlights for safety. · Tires ­ Snow tires on all four wheels will provide better traction and control in a winter emergency when those extra few metres of stopping distance are needed. Tire pressure should be checked at least once a month as it will vary with the temperature. · Seeing Habits ­ Check your mirrors every five to eight seconds so that you can see a rear-end collision taking shape behind you. Always plan your escape route so you have somewhere to go when a crash is likely. At Young Drivers, we believe the key to safe driving in all types of weather is preparation, a properly prepared car and your desire to drive collision-free. For additional Winter Driving tips, please visit our website www.yd.com. FALL REBATES GIANT Ultra Grip Ice UP TO $100* Cars & Vans Assurance TripleTred Three unique tread zones for tricky driving conditions on dry, wet and even snowy roads. INSTANT PICK-UPS & SUVS WINTER TIRES Eagle Ultra Grip & Ultra Grip Performance REBATE Premium winter tire that tackles the most severe winter driving Three unique tread zones for tricky conditions including snowy and icy High Performance winter tread design that is excellent in snow, driving conditions on dry, wet and roads. ice and slush even snowy roads. INSTANT REBATE INSTANT INSTANT REBATE REBATE Fortera TripleTred $ ON THE PURCHASE OF 4 TIRES 60 * $ ON THE PURCHASE OF 4 TIRES 100 * $ ON THE PURCHASE OF 4 TIRES 50 * $ ON THE PURCHASE OF 4 TIRES 60 * For severe winter driving. $ 1. Lube, change oil and replace oil filter to keep your engine clean. 2. Top up all fluids including brake, transmission, power steering, and radiator. 3. Analyze the electrical charging-system. 4. Tighten all drive belts and hose clamps if required. 5. Inspect cooling system and steering-linkage components. 6. Inspect front and rear brakes. *Offer valid for most passenger vehicles until December 15th, 2007. Additional parts and labour extra. Synthetic oil and disposal fee extra. 38 WINTER CAR CARE PACKAGE FREE TOTAL TIRE CARE PACKAGE WITH THE PURCHASE OF WINTER CAR CARE PACKAGE 1. Four wheel tire rotation. 2. Check tires for cuts and snags. 3. Readjust air pressure. 4. Measure tread depth. 5. Replace missing valve caps. Offer valid for most cars and light trucks until December 15th, 2007. EARN 25 BONUS AIR MILES REWARD MILES ON EVERY $100 YOU SPEND ON AUTO SERVICE! Must present coupon at time of purchase. One coupon per customer. Offer ends December 15th, 2007. Visit our website: www.goodyear.ca