Another snow day in Albany, NY means right now is the perfect time for us to share our helpful winter driving tips! We know living in Upstate New York means that you’re no stranger to snowy winters. However, that doesn’t mean you like driving in the snow or are any good at it. Lucky for you, your friends here at Destination Nissan are here to help get you from point A to point B safely! We have tons of winter driving tips and tricks below! Take a peek below and give yourself a refresher on the best practices for driving in the snow! We do want to urge all of our guests to stay home and avoid travel if possible. So, if you were planning on stopping in to shop today, we invite you to shop online and schedule a test for your next convenient date! 

Tips For Driving In The Snow:

• Accelerate and decelerate slowly. Applying the gas slowly to accelerate is the best method for gaining traction and avoiding skids.
• Drive slowly. Everything takes longer on snow-covered roads. Accelerating, stopping, turning – nothing happens as quickly as on dry pavement. Give yourself time to maneuver by driving slowly.
• The normal dry pavement following distance of three to four seconds should be increased to eight to ten seconds
• Know your brakes. Whether you have antilock brakes or not, the best way to stop is threshold braking.
• Don’t stop if you can avoid it.
• Don’t stop going up a hill. There’s nothing worse than trying to get moving up a hill on an icy road.
• Make it know what kind of driving assistance you have (AAA, Roadside Assistance, etc.)

Everyday Driving Tips: 

• Avoid driving while you’re fatigued.
• Never warm up a vehicle in an enclosed area, such as a garage.
• Make certain your tires are properly inflated.
• Keep your gas tank at least half full to avoid gas line freeze-up.
• If possible, avoid using your parking brake in cold, rainy, and snowy weather.
• Do not use cruise control when driving on any slippery surface (wet, ice, sand).
• Always look and steer where you want to go.
• Use your seat belt every time you get into your vehicle.

Long-Distance Driving Tips: 

• Watch Weather Reports
• Service your vehicle before hitting the road
• Keep at least half a tank at all times
• If you become snow-bound, stay with your vehicle. It provides temporary shelter and makes it easier for rescuers to locate you.
• Tie a brightly colored cloth to the antenna or place a cloth at the top of a rolled-up window to signal distress, if needed.
• Make sure the exhaust pipe isn’t clogged with snow, ice, or mud if you slide off the road