CHEVROLET WINTER DRIVING TIPS

CHEVROLET WINTER DRIVING TIPS

Posted on January 19, 2018

Stock your car: In addition to a snow brush and ice scraper, it’s a good idea to carry a snow shovel and abrasive material such as sand or cat litter. Jumper cables, a flashlight and emergency flares can help if you encounter unexpected problems. Cold weather clothing and emergency blanket or sleeping bag can be critical if you are stuck or stranded.

Changing lanes: If you are going to change lanes, you may want to look for patches of snow covered pavement, these areas often provide better traction for maneuvers. Once you signal for your turn, and begin to maneuver to the next lane, if the vehicle slips it’s important to remember not to overcorrect or panic, the StabiliTrak® system will assist in your maneuver.</p

In case of a skid: Don’t pump the brakes. Look in the direction you want the car to go and steer smoothly in that direction. For modern vehicles with antilock brakes, don’t pump the brakes. Rather, maintain pressure on the pedal and let the ABS system modulate the braking.

If the vehicle gets stuck: Depending on your vehicle’s ground clearance and the snow conditions, you can sometimes gently rock the vehicle free. Turn the steering wheel left and right to clear the area around the front wheels (or using a snow shovel). Turn off any traction system. Gently shift back and forth between reverse and a low forward gear, spinning the wheels as little as possible. This creates a rocking motion that may help free the vehicle. 

If the vehicle is stranded: Call OnStar for assistance. The winter driving section of owner’s manual has detailed instructions for intermittently running the vehicle to keep the interior warm. Be sure to clear snow from the base of the vehicle, especially any snow blocking the exhaust pipe. Open a window about two inches on the vehicle side away from the wind to bring in fresh air.