Safe Driving Tips and Tricks!

let's all get home safely and stay home!

THE BEST THING TO DO IN SEATTLE THIS WEEKEND IS TO STAY HOME!

If you can GET HOME NOW and stay home all weekend, please do. And while you are home, this would be a great time to check all your first aid supplies and safety equipment.

• Does your car have any emergency equipment?  Flares, Shovel, Road Triangles, Emergency Blankets, Jumper Cables, Window Scraper, Tow Rope
• If your car battery dies from the cold, do you have jumper cables and enough warm clothing to wait for a tow truck? Additional Water, Food?
• If you have to exit your vehicle, as in the situations above, will you be wearing warm boots with a traction sole, and will you have enough clothing, gloves and hats to stay warm outside the vehicle?
• Do your tires have deep enough tread to handle deep snow? And do you carry snow chains, especially when traveling mountain roads.
• Do you know how do drive safely on icy streets, especially on hills?
• Have you practiced recovering your vehicle's steering while in a slide?

DEFENSIVE DRIVING TIPS!

1. Slow Down - The number one reason people crash is driving faster than conditions allow!
2. Stop well before a traffic intersection. Intersections and bridges are the iciest spots on the road. As tires spin at a stop sign they compact the snow and make the 30-40 ft. before and after a stop sign treacherous. Drive so slowy approaching stop signs that you barely need to use your brakes to stop. Roll into the intersection gently to avoid spinning your tires.
3. Avoid Hills Entirely When Possible.  Any time you can adjust your route to avoid steep hills or limit your time on a hill, do it! The extra distance may save you from damaging your car and causing injury. If you must drive downhill, put your car in first or second gear and let it creep straight down the road without steering or braking suddenly. When approaching a steep uphill, increase speed steadily as you approach and have more speed than normal so the car has enough momentum to climb without losing traction. 
4. During a Skid Do NOT Over Correct Steering. Learning to regain control of a skidding vehicle takes practice and a gentle touch. Once the rear of your car starts to twist sideways, simply take your foot OFF the brake or accelerator and very gently turn your steering wheel in the direction you want to go. Sudden moves, braking and accelerating will make the skid WORSE.
5. IF YOU DO HAVE AN ACCIDENT MAKE SURE YOU WON'T BE HIT AGAIN BY ANOTHER SLIDING VEHICLE. If the area is not safe, whenever possible drive the car to a nearby safe place. (Parking lot, side street, etc.) Only exit the vehicle when it is safe to do so. Call 911 so police can examine the crash and establish responsibility. Know how to contact your insurance company, and don't leave the scene until police issue a report or advise you to leave.

IF YOU ARE AN EXPERIENCED DRIVER, TODAY WOULD BE A GREAT DAY TO FIND A HUGE, FLAT PARKING LOT AND TEACH YOUR TEENAGER HOW TO DRIVE IN SNOW BEFORE THEY NEED TO DO IT ALONE. AVOID PARKING LOTS WITH LIGHT POLES, HILLS, CURBS, AND CONCRETE PARKING BLOCKS.  Should you teenager damage your car... remember ...it's not my fault.  :)

Please be safe out there until the streets are dry again.
Farley Kautz, Owner, NwBestCPR and First Aid Training