Many Houstonians are unfamiliar with driving in the kind of icy conditions we face today. Here are some tips to help make your drive safer:
Driving in Cold, Icy Weather
• Never warm up a vehicle in an enclosed area, such as a garage.
• Be sure your tires are properly inflated. (See your owner’s manual for tire air pressure guidelines.)
• 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 are in a vehicle.
• Avoid driving when you’re tired. Getting the proper amount of rest before taking on winter weather reduces driving risks.
Defrosting Your Windshield
• Do not pour hot water on your windshield, as it may crack.
• Start your car. The car needs to be running before you can begin defrosting the windshield.
• Turn on the defrost option in your vehicle. It should be set to the highest heat on a low speed. Higher speeds actually fan out colder air than a lower setting.
• Wait a few minutes while the defroster melts the ice on your windshield. Once it is melted, you can wipe away the water with your windshield wipers.
• In a hurry, you can start the car with the defrost mode running and use an ice scraper to get rid of the frost.
