Winter Driving Tips from Rockville City Police

January and February tend to be the snowiest months in Montgomery County. If you haven’t already winterized your vehicle, consider Thursday’s snow miss a reprieve. Use the chance to prepare for when snow does arrive with these tips from the Rockville City Police Department: 

• Check the ignition, brakes, wiring, hoses and fan belts.
• Change and adjust the spark plugs.
• Check the air, fuel and emission filters, and the PCV valve.
• Inspect the distributor.
• Check the battery.
• Check the tires for air, their sidewalls for wear and their treads for depth.
• Check the antifreeze levels and the freeze line.
• Check the windshield washer fluid level.
• Make sure that your gas tank is full before hitting the road.

Tips for driving on snow and ice:

• The best advice for driving in bad weather: Don’t drive at all, if you can avoid it.
• If you must go out, don’t go until snowplows and sanding trucks have had a chance to do their work.
• Allow yourself extra time to reach your destination.
• Make sure your vehicle is prepared for winter conditions, and that you know how to handle the road conditions.
• Make sure that you clean all snow and ice off your vehicle, including from the windshield, back window, headlights and taillights, as well as side windows and side mirrors.
• When driving, slow down and leave plenty of room to stop. Leave at least three times more space than usual between your vehicle and the vehicle in front of you.
• Brake gently to avoid skidding. If the brakes lock, don’t panic—ease off the brake.
• Use your headlights to increase your visibility to other motorists.
• Use low gears to keep traction, especially on hills.
• Don’t use cruise control or overdrive on icy roads.
• Use extreme caution on bridges, overpasses and infrequently traveled roads. They freeze first.
• Don’t pass snowplows and sanding trucks. Their drivers have limited visibility, and you are likely to find the road in front of them worse than the road behind them.
• Don’t assume your vehicle can handle all conditions. Even four-wheel drive vehicles can encounter trouble on winter roads.
• Don’t use a cell phone while driving. Period. If you need to make a call, pull over.

For more information visit www.weather.com or the National Safety Council at www.nsc.org.