Winter is here in Portland!

Broadway Import Auto Service in Portland wants everyone out there to be safe when in their vehicles!

Winter driving, especially after a snow or ice storm, can be treacherous.

Roads can turn into ice rinks, leading to crashes, lengthy traffic jams and white-knuckle driving.

Before driving your car in winter conditions, make sure your vehicle is running fine, says David Waits, owner of Japanese Automotive Service in Hilliard, Ohio. Have a trusted mechanic fully inspect it before cold weather hits. A tune-up costs as little as $40 or as much as several hundred dollars, depending on whether work needs to be done, mechanics say.

"Maintenance is the key to keeping your vehicle healthy," Waits says. "It's very important to make sure all the fluids are full, the lights are working, the exhaust is not leaking and the wiper blades and tires are in good condition."

Randal Regan, service writer at Marc Yount's Tire Pros, a vehicle maintenance business in Evans, Georgia, says visibility is another key for winter driving. He recommends replacing windshield wipers and changing washer fluid before winter hits. He also says it's important to keep your windows clean so you have full visibility.

"The best advice I can give is to be prepared," he says.

Driving in icy and snowy conditions is dangerous and can cause you to lose control of your vehicle. But there are a few tips to help keep your car safe on the road.

First off, experts recommend slowing down in such conditions. According to AAA, brake and accelerate slowly to avoid skidding.

Mechanics say to leave yourself more time than usual to stop, and avoid sudden actions such as slamming on your brakes. A normal following distance of three to four seconds behind the vehicle in front of you should increase to eight to 10 seconds in snow, according to AAA. The Maine Department of Transportation reports that this is especially true on bridges, off-ramps and areas with black ice.

In snow and ice, SafeMotorist.com recommends starting out slowly, being gentle with the gas pedal and braking three times sooner than you typically would before coming to a stop or turning.

When braking in slick conditions, the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration recommends applying firm pressure to the brake for cars equipped with an anti-lock braking system. Drivers must continue to gently pump the brakes if they don't have anti-lock brakes to keep the brakes from locking up.

According to the NHTSA, anti-lock brakes are a safety feature on many cars that are designed to prevent your wheels from locking up by changing the pressure in your car's brake lines, similar to pumping the brakes.

Waits adds that all-wheel and four-wheel drive cars will usually go straight without sliding in most poor driving conditions, but it doesn't mean they'll stop or turn as easily.

Four-wheel drive vehicles has a drivetrain where all four wheels receive power from the engine, while two-wheel drive receives power to only two - either both from wheels or both back wheels.

It's also important to be prepared before you drive in winter conditions.

Waits says that means packing hats, gloves, coats, blankets, non-perishable food and water in case you are stranded. He also recommends packing a sleeping bag.

It may be a good idea to use snow tires or chains when driving in snow. Regan recommends using four snow tires on roads that are covered with ice or snow. He recommends a tire with at least a 6/32-inch deep tread when driving in snow. If it's less than that, it's time to replace the tire.

Also, make sure your gas tank is at least half full to prevent the gas line from freezing up.

"Do not let it go below half," Waits says. "The added weight will help with traction, and fuel will be needed to run the engine in case you're stranded."

Waits adds it's never a good idea to run or charge accessories when the engine is not running or you could drain the car's battery.

Article by Tom Moor. Tom Moor is an automotive reporter at www.AngiesList.com.

Our technicians at Broadway Motor Import Service are ASE certified and we use the latest tools and equipment when servicing your vehicle. Our mission is to provide the best service possible, knowing the greatest compliment is our customer's happiness and referrals.

Please contact us for any auto service or repair you might have.

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