Driving Tips to Get You Through the Winter Season Safely

GRANDVILLE, Mich.––We live in West Michigan, which is a place that unfortunately experiences the worst of winter conditions. The lake effect snow and bitter cold temps can take a toll on our roads and our safety. At RiverTown Honda, we truly care about your and your vehicles well-being. Since the weather is finally here, we've got some driving tips to get you through the winter season safely. If there is any auto service you need that'll help keep you safe on the road, we'd love to help!

1. Pack Your Winter Emergency Kit

Your winter kit should definitely include an emergency kit (with first aid items) and an ice scraper. You can pack other things like extra clothing, gloves, a snow shovel, hand and foot warming packs, etc. While we never want anything bad to happen to our customers on the road, we do want them to be prepared for any situation, especially in inclement weather.

2. Properly Clear Off Your Vehicle

We understand that it might be easier to clear only the space you need on your windshield when you're in a time crunch, but properly clearing your vehicle  is necessary for your safety. When the weather is bad, your clear vision of the road is so important. This also helps avoid snow from falling onto your windshield from the roof, and from snow flying into others' windshields on the road.

3. Slow Down

This is a no-brainer, but it's worth mentioning because of the high level of importance. If it's snowing, hailing, sleeting, etc. slow down past the speed limit. Slowing down can help improve your stopping distance and allow you to focus on what's happening on the road, especially if visibility is bad.

4. Start Slow and Leave More Room to Stop

When the roads get slippery from snow and ice, it can be difficult for your vehicle to get going. Instead of stepping on the gas like you normally would at a stop sign or red light, slowly press the pedal and work your way up to the speed limit from there. Also make sure to leave more room for stopping than you normally would, as your car might not have the traction it needs on the slippery surface of the road.

5. Keep Your Lights On 

Even if it's not dark outside, your lights still serve a purpose. They allow you to see the road better, but more importantly, allow others to see you! If it's sunny outside (we wish) you probably don't need your lights, but if it's overcast, foggy, snowing, etc. keep your lights on so others know where you are and where you're headed.

6. Take Care of Routine Maintenance

While all of the above tips are helpful for winter driving, there's one important thing that'll help keep keep your car running well all year round. When your car is running well, you can depend on it to get you from point A to point B without any hiccups. That thing we're talking about is routine maintenance and seasonal car care. For winter we recommend, replacing your windshield wipers, having your tires rotated or replaced (see below), getting your oil changed, having your brakes inspected, and getting your battery tested. 

7. Consider Investing in Winter Tires 

Winter tires aren't necessary, but we think they're well worth the cost for your safety! West Michigan winters can get pretty nasty, cold, and snowy. Winter tires are built to be more flexible in temperatures under 45 degrees, providing more traction on the cold roads. They're also designed to better channel slush and snow for easier driving. And not to mention, they can help a FWD vehicle perform better than an AWD vehicle with all-season tires. Check out our guide to winter tires for more information.

Our Honda and non-Honda customers are important to us, so use these driving tips to get you through the winter season safely, and come see us at RiverTown Honda for Winter Car Care services! Our team of Certified technicians will help you stay safe with tire rotations, winter tire installations, oil changes, wiper blade installations, full vehicle inspections, and more at our Service Center or Express Service Lane. Make sure to check out our Winter Car Care tips online for more information on what to do to keep your vehicle running well throughout the winter season. Remember, you're not that far from the best dealership experience of your life! We're located only 12 minutes from downtown Grand Rapids off I-196 in Grandville.

Give RiverTown Honda a call at (877) 236-9113, or visit us at 4260 Kenowa Ave. Grandville, MI 49418, one mile west of RiverTown Mall.

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