As automotive experts, we've seen all sorts of fender-bender repairs here at AudioVideo2go.com.  After all, with 20 years of experience, there isn't much that hasn't come through our doors.   With the thanksgiving  driving season just around the corner, I thought it would be important to share some of our experiences with our readers.  There really are some simple things you can do to reduce the likely hood of an accident - and most if it starts with the way you drive, and care for your vehicle.  

The key to driving, as with many things in life, is preparation.  A driver traveling at 70mph has only seconds to react to an emergency.  It's not enough to have fast reflexes - even the  best driver won't be able to avoid the box falling from the truck in front of them while traveling at highway speeds.   To avoid that particular speed bump, be prepared and pro-active:   Instead of following that truck, why not move into a different lane, or slow down to allow for more reaction time if something were to fall off?     A few more feet between you and the truck may be all you need to be able to avoid something unexpected - and save thousands in car repairs. 

Thanksgiving and Christmas are the  two of the most traveled holidays of the year as family gather from all over the country to celebrate the holidays.  Many people fly, but most people drive. These major driving period happen to also be within the worst times of weather in the country.  Rain, freezing temperatures, fog, and snow are most common  during the months of November and December.  Just in time for  your turkey trip!    Here are a few helpful hints  on how you can drive safer in all kinds of weather.

Rain

There are two main dangers during rain. The first is the commonly taught concept of "hydroplaning."  As we were told in our high school driving courses, hydroplaning happens when a car's tires are moving at such a high speed that instead of cutting through the water, they skip on top of it the same way a water skier skips on top of a lake. This loss of traction causes the car to skid and the driver to lose control.  Avoiding a hydroplane is easy - driving slower will allow the water under the tires to escape through the tire tread, and maintain traction.   You can help by avoiding the rutted tire indentations in the road caused by years of wear from car travel.  Water often collects in these ruts, which can exacerbate hydroplaning. 

The second danger to driving in the rain is much less known.  When it's raining in sheets and you can barely see out your front window, it's easy to know that you must drive safely. But, what happens when it has just drizzled and the road isn't a flooded river?   Drivers often underestimate the dangers of driving on a wet road - even if it has already stopped raining.   When dust and sand on the road mix with just a drizzle of rain, it creates a slick soapy mixture that is extremely slippery.  The drizzle isn't enough to wash away the greasy mixture off the road, so it remains as a coating on the road surface waiting for you to make a mistake.    Give yourself extra room when driving on this type of wet surface as it may take a few extra feet to stop if traction is not maintained by the tires.  

Snow 

Living here in Florida, we don't have to deal with snow very often.  But, believe it or not it does snow here in North Florida every few years.  When it happens, you can imagine the chaos that ensues on the roads!    You can make driving in snow as easy as driving in rain by doing one simply thing: Stay in he wheel ruts created by the cars in front of you.  In these ruts, the snow has already melted. So, you are merely driving on a wet surface, and you can then use the same rules we've outlined for rain above (with the one exception being that you should not avoid the ruts when driving in snow).   Driving in snow absolutely demands good tires, so invest a few hundred dollars in them - they could save you thousands in collision repairs!  

Ice 

Ice is one of the greatest challenge an unprepared driver will face because it can easily cause a car to lose complete control.  When driving over ice, a driver may lose the ability to stop, steer, or accelerate. You've now become a passenger on the ice!    The largest danger in ice driving is the so-called "Black Ice."  This is ice that appears black because it is so flat and clear that you can see the black roadway right through it.  What makes this ice so dangerous is it's absolute smoothness (which is why you can see through it).  The only way to get through a patch of black ice is to remain calm, and avoid overreacting: don't slam on the breaks or make any sudden wheel movements.  Your tires will have no traction on the ice, so  you simply have to wait for the car to make it through the black ice patch before trying to steer it in the right direction.  The only way to remain calm is to  have the foresight to know that you may drive right into a patch of black ice at any moment. Drive slower, and anticipate ice being right around the corner.  The best offense with ice is a good defensive driver.  

Fog 

Ever wonder what those solid white lines are for to the right of the road?  They are actually called "Fog Lines" and they are there to help you when driving through fog.  Fog  reduces your visibility, so it's essential that you slow down and keep extra distance between you and the car in front of you.   Never use your high beams, as this will simply reflect more light off the fog and into your eyes.  Keep your low beams on and make sure you maintain sight of that white fog line.   Fight the urge to pull over on to the shoulder if possible  - cars behind you may follow you into the right lane and accidentally run into your vehicle.  If you need a break, try to pull off at a highway exit and grab a cup of coffee or fill up on gas.  

Extra tips for driving: 

Animals -   Hunters wake up at the crack of dawn, wear camouflaged outfits, and sit in a deer stand for many cold hours waiting for that buck to walk by. When it does, they use a rifle with a scope and a bullet that travels 720mph to strike their target dead.   Believe it or not, a 1999 Ford Taurus can accomplish the exact same thing traveling down the highway at 45mph with it's headlights on, and it's horn blaring.   Accidents between vehicles and animals increase by nearly 300% in the months of November and December.  At this time, animals are very active in their preparation for winter, especially in the Atlantic Coastal states.   Drive slowly, and be on the lookout for animals - especially on  roads with no traffic.  

Distractions -  The kids are fighting. Now they are asking what clouds taste like. Now they want to know how far they are from Grandma's house.   Being distracted by children while driving can be as dangerous as texting or talking on the phone.  Keep the kids in the rear seat entertained so you can concentrate on the road. Have your passenger play a game with them. Better yet, use a rear seat entertainment system with wireless headphones to keep the car quiet while the kids enjoy a movie.  If your vehicle didn't come with a rear seat DVD, consider buying one that's easy to install and inexpensive. 

Tires - We've mentioned tires in each of our tips above.  You may have a state-of-the-art vehicle with stability control, All-wheel drive, and electronic braking, but none of that matters if your tires are not making proper contact with the road.  I recommend using the penny test to make sure you have proper tread.  Stick a penny in your tire tread - if you can see the top  of Lincoln's head, it's time for new tires.   According to the NHTSA there are 400 deaths a year caused by tire failure, so the new tires you install just may save your life. 

A little preparation this holiday season can go a long way to protecting your bottom line, and more importantly: you and your family's bottom.

Do you have some driving tips to share? Use the form below to let us know!