Driving during winter storms without proper preparation is dangerous. In fact, car accidents are the leading cause of death during the winter. Even if no one is injured, storm-related accidents can cause major damage to cars, especially import cars like Audis and Porsches. Fortunately, there are a few safety precautions to prevent such disasters from occurring.
Check Your Car's Safety Features
The most important step in preparing your sports car for winter driving is checking its basic safety features and fixing any problems before taking the car out on the road. Here are a few to check:
Brakes
Brakes are especially important to check during winter, and a professional dealership that specializes in import cars should test them.
Tires
Sports cars like Audis and Porsches generally sit lower to the ground, partly because of the tires. While performance tires are great for precision driving and control during dry summer months, they are dangerous to use during winter. Invest in a set of winter or all-season tires that have better traction and elevate your car higher off the ground.
Heater
A functioning heater is important for both comfort and safety. If your car gets stalled or stuck in the snow, having a good source of heat can be the difference between life and death.
Defroster
Sports cars are more susceptible breakdowns during winter if they haven't been properly warmed up. Make sure your car's defroster is functioning correctly, and thoroughly warm your car up before driving.
Antifreeze
Make sure your car has a fresh supply of antifreeze before taking it out during the winter. If you are unsure, have a professional look at it.
Invest In Extra Safety Features
Investing in any number of these extra safety features will help prepare your sports car for winter driving.
All-Wheel Drive
Some people claim all-wheel drive is unnecessary for urbanites, but that's not entirely true. All-wheel drive systems help you stay safe on hills during winter storms.
Antilock Brakes
Antilock brakes prevent your tires from locking and skipping, shorten stopping distances and give you more control over your car.
Traction Control
Traction control is like antilock brakes, but for acceleration, not stopping. Advanced traction control systems sense when your tires are skipping or locking and reapply power to the wheels that have traction.
Carry Safety Provisions
No matter what precautions you take, there is always a chance your Porsche or Audi will break down or get stuck in the snow. Therefore, it's important to keep safety provisions in your car during the winter months, including:
- Blankets
- Food/Water
- Chains
- A shovel
- Flashlights
- Road Flares
- Extra car keys
- Extra clothes
- First aid kit
- Extra gas
Be Careful in General
- Slow down
- Allow extra time to get to your destination
- Keep your eyes on the road
- Know your car's limits
Make sure your car is properly prepared for the weather, take a few safety precautions, and you will reduce your chances of experiencing a tragic accident.