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Friday 27 July 2012
Friday 27 July 2012
Weekend Sun Friday 27 JulyThe 2012
Bay Driver
Five winter driving tips Driving in winter can sometimes be a daunting prospect. Bookings and enquiries contact Caro Leuschke 027 578 0035 email: caro@thesun.co.nz For editorial and news tips email: ben@thesun.co.nz
Good vehicle preparation, knowledge and driving technique are critical. Here are some winter driving tips for making sure your journey is safe, enjoyable and hazard-free.
Winter ready
phone 07 578 0030 fax 07 571 1116 email ads@thesun.co.nz No.1 The Strand, PO Box 240, Tauranga 3140 www.sunlive.co.nz
Is your vehicle approaching the time for its next scheduled service? If so, don’t put it off. Book your vehicle in for a pre-winter check with your local MTA member business or trusted mechanic. The experts know what to look for – oil levels, heating and cooling systems, wiper blades, filters, and battery and tyre pressures amongst other things. By doing this you’ll have peace of mind in knowing that your vehicle is ready for the conditions. Experience shows that if a car is going to fail, it’s most likely to do so when in the harshest operating conditions – and for most owners, that’s the winter months.
Tyres
For just $44,990* you could be driving a new Falcon XR6, complete with 6-speed transmission, 17” alloys and sports body kit. You wouldn’t want to miss out on that. Visit your Ford Dealer today.
Good visibility
Reduced visibility means you have to budget extra time for every drive. Before you hit
*Price shown excludes on road costs. Offer available until March 31, 2011.
ford.co.nz
FLEXIBLE ARRANGEMENT FLEXIBLE ARRANGEMENT Centred Centred
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Left Align Left Align
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All the control you have is delivered through four palm-sized patches of rubber where the tyres meet the road. Start by making sure your tyres are in good condition; having at least the minimum tread depth and being free from cuts and damage. Make sure your tyres are properly inflated. Over-inflation can reduce the gripping action of tyres because the tread will not meet the road surface as it was designed to do. If you’re going to be driving in the snow, make sure you have the correct chains and snow tyres (if fitted) – it’s now the law that when you use snow tyres that all four are in fact snow tyres.
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the road make sure you can see out of every window and mirror. Use a proper windscreen scraper or de-icer to remove ice from your vehicle. Do not use warm water, as this may cause your windscreen to crack. People often only associate air-conditioning with staying cool during the summer months, but it’s equally vital for ensuring good visibility during the colder months. Get your system checked. And make sure people can see you. Ensure your lights are all working properly and are correctly adjusted. Get them on early and turn them off late; you may choose to keep them on at all times. Use your main beam, and remember to keep them dipped when travelling in foggy conditions; blasting them on to high beam only results in the light being reflected straight back at your eyes, making visibility even harder.
Know what to expect
If you’re travelling out of town make sure you know what you’re in for. Bridges and overpasses ice over faster than normal roads as the earth is warm and normal roads have the warmth of the earth underneath. Shady areas cool more quickly than areas in full sun. Shadows from trees, buildings and hills can cause isolated icy spots. When accelerating, push the accelerator pedal gently. If you do sense wheel-spin, ease back on the pedal immediately until you feel the tyres grip again. Apply the same principle when braking. Brake gently at first then increase the pedal pressure progressively. You can brake quite hard as long as the application is smooth. Remember, don’t steer if you are braking or accelerating and vice versa. If your vehicle is fitted with ABS or a stability control system, make sure you know what this can do for you. Get experience of your vehicle’s capabilities and how it reacts, before you get stuck.