Important tips for drivers to remember as temperatures start to plummet

OTHER GRADE. WELL, THE DROPPING TEMPERATURES ARE BRINGING THE NEED FOR EXTRA LAYERS, BUT ALSO MORE LAYERS OF PROTECTION TO OUR CARS, TOO, AND PROTECTION FOR OUR REPORTERS OUT THERE IN THE ELEMENTS. SOMETHING TO ADD TO THE CHECKLIST, WINTERIZING YOUR VEHICLE. WLWT. NEWS 5 ANCHOR CHRIS JACOBS FREEZING IN THE PARKING LOT RIGHT NOW. LIVE WITH THE USEFUL TIPS AS THE 20 DEGREE TEMPERATURES ARE GOING TO HIT US NOW, CHRIS, WITHIN JUST A MATTER OF HOURS AS YEAH. AND COMING FROM TEXAS, I THOUGHT WINTERIZING YOUR CAR WAS BASICALLY DEFROSTING IT FOR ABOUT FIVE MINUTES AND THEN YOU WERE GOOD TO GO. BUT I WAS CERTAINLY WRONG OF COURSE, WITH TEMPERATURES LIKE THIS. BUT YEAH, YOU’RE RIGHT FOR ROAD SAFETY, CAR MAINTENANCE, WINTER WEATHER CAN BE A SERIOUS ISSUE. ACCORDING TO TRIPLE A, IT ACCOUNTS FOR NEARLY HALF OF ALL CAR ACCIDENTS AND CAN LEAD TO ABOUT 2000 DEATHS EVERY YEAR ON OUR ROADWAYS. OF COURSE, THE TYPICAL RULES OF THE ROAD ALWAYS APPLY, BUT YOU SHOULD BE ESPECIALLY CAUTIOUS WHEN THE TEMPERATURES DROP. DRIVING TIPS LIKE NOT TAILGATING, SLOWING DOWN AND NOT USING CRUISE CONTROL ON SLICK ROADS ARE NOTHING NEW. BUT BEFORE YOU HIT THE ROAD, YOU SHOULD TAKE CARE OF A FEW THINGS ON YOUR WINTER CHECKLIST. THE PRIORITY SHOULD BE TESTING YOUR BATTERY, WHICH TRIPLE A SAYS THEY HAD ABOUT 66,000 CALLS TO FIX LAST WINTER. YOU SHOULD REPLACE YOUR OLDER WINDSHIELD WIPER BLADES AND INSPECT YOUR TIRES. NOW, WE SPOKE WITH A MANAGER AT BOB SUMMERALL AT HYDE PARK PLAZA IN OAKLEY. HE BROKE DOWN WHAT YOU SHOULD FOCUS ON, A LOT OF TIMES WE’RE TALKING ABOUT TIRES IS TREAD DEPTH. THEY DON’T REALLY KNOW IT UNTIL YOU START SLIDING AROUND ON THE ICE THAT YOU’VE LOST YOUR TREAD AND THAT’S GOING OUT AND CHECKING YOUR TREAD DEPTH. WE WERE TALKING ABOUT USING A PENNY BEFORE. OBVIOUSLY, IF YOU SEE STILL SEE ABE LINCOLN’S HEAD, YOU KNOW, IT’S GOOD. BUT CHECK THAT TREAD DEPTH. THEY HAVE TREAD BARS ON THEM NOW AND YOU CAN CHECK THE DEPTH OF THEM AND YOU GET TO THAT POINT, YOU’RE LOSING ALL TRACTION. YEAH. AND YOU HEARD FUNK TALK ABOUT THAT AGE OLD PENNY TRICK. WHAT HE’S REFERENCING IS TAKING A PENNY, PLACING IT UPSIDE DOWN IN THE TREAD. IF YOU DON’T SEE LINCOLN’S HEAD, THEN YOU’RE PRETTY GOOD TO GO BECAUSE THE TREADS DECENT ENOUGH TO DRIVE YOUR CAR ON. IF YOU DO SEE ALL OF LINCOLN’S HEAD ON THE PENNY, THEN YOU ACTUALLY WILL BE ABLE TO OR YOU WILL BE IN NEED OF SOME NEW TIRES. THEY MAY BE A LITTLE TOO WORN FOR YOU, BUT OF COURSE, A FINAL TIP, FUNK MENTIONS GETTING A EMERGENCY WEATHER KIT JUST IN CASE THE WEATHER GETS TOO BAD OR SOMETHING GOES WRONG WITH THE CAR. THAT CAN INCLUDE THINGS LIKE SAND OR A SMALL SHOVEL, A FLASHLIGHT, AN ICE SCRAPER, JUMPER CABLES, AND OF COURSE, SOME GLOVES AS WELL. BUT IF YOU DON’T HAVE AN ICE SCRAPER, FUNK TELLS US YOU SHOULD. YOU COULD ALSO GET A CREDIT CARD OR SOME SORT OF CARD THAT YOU’RE NOT USING FROM YOUR WALLET. THAT CAN ALSO BE AN EF

The dropping temperatures in the Greater Cincinnati area are bringing the need for extra layers of clothing and also added protection for cars.For road safety and car maintenance, winter weather can be a serious issue.According to AAA, the winter season alone is when almost half of all weather-related crashes occur. That leads to around 2,000 road deaths every year.Of course, all of the rules of the road still apply during the colder months, but drivers should be especially cautious when the temperatures drop.Driving trips for the cold include not tailgating, slowing down and not using cruise control while on slick roads.Before hitting the road, drivers should take care of a few things on the winter checklist. Among the priorities should be testing the car battery, which AAA said they had 66,000 calls to fix last winter, replacing older windshield wiper blades and inspecting the tires.Assistant manager of Bob Sumeral Tire and Service Mike Funk talked about what drivers should focus on as the temperatures plummet.”A lot of times we were talking about tires, is tread depth,” Funk said. “You don’t really know it until you start sliding around on the ice, you’ve lost tread. Funk said it’s important to carry an emergency kit in the vehicle that is equipped for winter weather.The kit should include some sand, a small shovel, a flashlight, an ice scraper, jumper cables and gloves.Funk also said that if drivers don’t have an ice scraper with them, they can use a card from their wallet, preferably one they don’t need anymore.

CINCINNATI —

The dropping temperatures in the Greater Cincinnati area are bringing the need for extra layers of clothing and also added protection for cars.

For road safety and car maintenance, winter weather can be a serious issue.

According to AAA, the winter season alone is when almost half of all weather-related crashes occur. That leads to around 2,000 road deaths every year.

Of course, all of the rules of the road still apply during the colder months, but drivers should be especially cautious when the temperatures drop.

Driving trips for the cold include not tailgating, slowing down and not using cruise control while on slick roads.

Before hitting the road, drivers should take care of a few things on the winter checklist. Among the priorities should be testing the car battery, which AAA said they had 66,000 calls to fix last winter, replacing older windshield wiper blades and inspecting the tires.

Assistant manager of Bob Sumeral Tire and Service Mike Funk talked about what drivers should focus on as the temperatures plummet.

“A lot of times we were talking about tires, is tread depth,” Funk said. “You don’t really know it until you start sliding around on the ice, you’ve lost tread.

Funk said it’s important to carry an emergency kit in the vehicle that is equipped for winter weather.

The kit should include some sand, a small shovel, a flashlight, an ice scraper, jumper cables and gloves.

Funk also said that if drivers don’t have an ice scraper with them, they can use a card from their wallet, preferably one they don’t need anymore.

Daily News

Important tips for drivers to remember as temperatures start to plummet

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