Safety Tips When Driving In Rain And Flooded Areas!

From driving in the rain to flooded roadways, there are certain driving techniques you can use to help navigate the roads this Spring. Along with the warmer weather comes rainy days of Spring. As the best car dealership in mid-Missouri, we want to help keep you safe on the roadways.  While driving in each season provides its own set of challenges, we want to focus in on Spring in this week's blog. Take a look below to learn some driving tips you can start implementing today!

SAFETY TIPS WHEN DRIVING IN RAIN 

AND FLOODED AREAS

Check Your Wiper Blades

Be sure your windshield wipers are working properly before it starts raining. Keeping up with your vehicle's maintenance will help you stay safe when bad weather approaches. If you can't see due to poor wipers, it is dangerous for you and others driving around you.

Make Sure Your Headlights Are On

Remember to make sure your lights are on if it is raining! This can help other drivers see your vehicle better. In addition to others seeing you, it allows you to see the road better as well. It is also the law to have your lights on if your windshield wipers are on. Double check to make sure your lights are on if you have automatic headlights. 

Slow Down

Plan extra travel time during heavy rains. You will need to drive slower to help avoid hydroplaning. As you navigate the rainy roads, keep your speed controlled. A lower speed can help you better react to driving conditions. If it is raining so hard you can't see the road, try to find a safe place to pull off the road.

Know Your Route

Driving during the rain can be dangerous. Heavy rains can lead create flash floods that come on very quickly. Know the route you are driving ahead of time. There may be low bridges or roadways that flood easily during heavy rains. Never try to drive over flooded areas and avoid known flooded routes if possible. Make sure you take every precaution this Spring when driving in rain and flooded areas.

Steer Clear of Standing Water

Water can gather if a roadway does not drain properly. This can create a dangerous situation for all. If you drive through standing water, you could hydroplane and potentially lose control of your vehicle. Try to avoid driving through standing water if at all possible.

Best Dealership In Mid-Missouri

More and more vehicles are on the roadways in the spring and summer months. From family vacations to friend getaways, more people travel this time of year. Now that you've learned some of these driving tips, it can help make the roadway a safer place for you and other drivers. If you are planning a road trip of your own, be sure to stop by our California, MO car dealership before you hit the road. Here at Spieler's Inc., we can check over your ride to make sure it is ready for your adventure.

Proudly Serving the Columbia,

Jefferson City, and California, MO Areas

1109 W. Buchanan St.
California, MO 65018
(888) 455-2107

Visit our website:  www.spielersinc.com

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5 Tips for Improving Visibility During Winter

Winter weather can cause dangerous driving conditions in the Mid-West. Many winter accidents result from poor visibility situations when motorists cannot see the road and other cars. Anything you do to improve visibility can help everyone stay safe during a treacherous time of year. The following five tips from the best car dealership near Jefferson City for improving visibility during winter can help you and your family stay safe on the road.

Windshield Wipers

 Wipers can help clear windows of rain, sleet, ice and frost, but they cannot improve visibility if they aren't being used. Make sure you activate your wipers as soon as precipitation starts and leave them on until it stops. Wipers in good condition can deflect precipitation easily, keeping the windshield clear from obstruction. Worn or damaged windshield wipers can leave a thin layer of snow or ice on your windshield or leave streaks that can keep you from properly seeing the road. Check with the most trusted car dealership in Mid-Missouri to have your wipers inspected. If needed, service technicians can quickly install high-quality replacements that meet the specifications of your vehicle.

Snow Removal

We've had nothing but rain so far this winter, but the season has only just begun! Accumulated snow camouflages your car, making it difficult to see while on the road. To stay safe, remove snow from the hood, roof, and trunk of your car as well as from the bumpers before leaving your driveway. Keep a small brush or broom in your car so that you can remove snow no matter where you are.

Headlights

Headlights help other drivers see your car and help you get a good view of the road ahead. You should always turn on your headlights during inclement weather. It's also worth your time to inspect your headlights every couple of months to ensure they are clean and in optimum condition. Promptly replace burned-out or dimmed bulbs for a safer winter driving experience.

Most modern cars use plastic headlight lenses that can become cloudy over time. These aging lenses reduce the effectiveness of your headlights, setting the stage for a low-visibility and more dangerous driving environment. Your #1 dealership near Jefferson City can restore these lenses to clear, like-new condition. Don't hesitate to ask for help.

Safety Flares

Treacherous winter roads become worse when your car breaks down. You can improve the visibility of your disabled car by deploying safety flares that attract and reflect the lights of oncoming vehicles to alert motorists of a stranded stationary car. Buy high-visibility safety flares and store them in your car for emergency use. While you’re at it, stow away some of the items we mentioned in our previous blog, 14 Must-Have Items for Your Emergency Kit!

Driving during poor weather is a risky venture. The best advice Spieler's Inc. can give is to avoid driving during low visibility when possible. Safety is always the #1 priority when it comes to driving a vehicle. Drive slower and pay even closer attention to the roads when inclement weather strikes.

Proudly Serving the Columbia,

Jefferson City, and California, MO Areas

1109 W. Buchanan St.
California, MO 65018

(888) 455-2107

Visit our website:

www.spielersinc.com

Like us on Facebook

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5 Winter Driving Tips From Spieler's Inc!

Winter can cause some hazardous road conditions due to snow and poor weather. Your #1 Car dealership in Missouri has you covered! We've put together 5 helpful tips that can assist you with poor road conditions and winter driving. Spieler's Inc. wants to make sure that everyone is safe on the road this season.

1. Tire Pressure

The change in temperature causes dramatic fluctuations in air pressure inside your tires. A drop in ten degrees can lower your overall tire pressure in one tire by 1-2 pounds! Low tire pressure can cause poor handling in bad road conditions and can be detrimental to your fuel economy. 

Solution:

Once a month, check your tires in the morning  to make sure they are at the pressure indicated in the owners manual. Checking all four tires takes just a few minutes and ensures that your vehicle's tires are operating at the correct pressure.

2. Accelerating

Lead-foot driving is already hard enough on the vehicle. During inclement weather, it can also cause controllability problems. Your vehicle can overreact on slick surfaces at the smallest turn and braking becomes more difficult. If a driver isn't careful, they could wreck their vehicle.

Solution: 

When accelerating, gradually get the car up to speed. The same advice works for turning - do so slowly. Every movement should slow down during poor weather to ensure the safety of everyone on the road.

3. Cruise Control

Cruise control is great for long distance and steady driving! Unfortunately, it can't predict a patch of black ice or adjust to changing road conditions. If your vehicle is set to maintain a certain speed and hits a puddle of water or a patch of ice, the computer will sense that the vehicle slowed down and try to accelerate - causing the resulting hydroplane to be much more dangerous.

Solution:

Keep the cruise control off and be a vigilant driver. If you find yourself in a situation where the vehicle is hydroplaning, you can decelerate and maintain positive control over your vehicle.

4. Fuel

If it starts to snow heavily or the rain is beating down hard enough that you cannot continue driving, it's time to pull over. You may not know how long the storm will last or how the road conditions will be after the storm. This means that you could be stuck in the vehicle for a long time! Having a vehicle with a nearly empty tank could become dangerous if stuck out in the elements for a long time.

Solution:

Always keep a half tank of fuel or more in your vehicle. This will allow you to wait out most storms, and keep you warm while you wait for help or for the storm to clear up. 

5. Clear Off Your Car 

Snow can add a lot of weight to your vehicle, negatively impacting performance and fuel economy. It can also cause additional risks to other drivers on the road. Additionally, snow covering the windshield causes extremely poor visibility.

Solution: 

Clear off and properly defrost your vehicle. Remove all the snow and get rid of the excess weight. This increases your visibility and reduces the chance of accidentally causing an accident if a sheet of snow slides off onto the roadway.

Spieler's Inc. Cares about Your Safety.

Driving during heavy winter weather increases the risk of accidents. Your best car dealership near Jefferson City is here to remind you that the cold weather brings about some complicated roadways. By following the rules of the road and maintaining a safety-first mentality, you can reduce the risks associated with driving in the upcoming months. 

Proudly Serving the Columbia,

Jefferson City, and California, MO Areas

1109 W. Buchanan St.

California, MO 65018

(888) 455-2107

Visit our website:

www.spielersinc.com

Like us on Facebook

Follow us on Twitter

Follow us on LinkedIn