Monthly Archives: October 2011

Choosing The Correct Windshield Wiper Improves Winter Driving Safety

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With winter looming many drivers prepare their vehicles for winter by installing a set of winter tires. While these are essential for safe driving, many fail to recognize windshield wiper blades are just as important.

There are hundreds of brands and types on the market. Which ones are the best for winter driving?

There is no easy answer to this question. There are a number of factors that come to play when deciding. The wiper blades you select must match your vehicle and be suitable for the climate in which you are driving.

Most vehicles come with all-purpose blades installed from factory. These are adequate for clearing the windshield in most mild climates but are rarely suitable for winter driving. With snow, ice and salt a reality of winter driving, having the correct wiper blade is essential for safe winter driving.

You can choose from winter, silicone, shaker, standard or heated wiper blades. Each has its own unique use. Some are better suited for mild climates while others are designed exclusively for harsh winter conditions.

When winter approaches it is advisable for drivers to choose winter wiper blades. These are designed to handle snow and ice and survive the harsh conditions typically associated with winter driving.

Most winter wiper blades will prevent snow and ice from accumulating and clear the windshield’s surface during driving.

However, it is recommended you choose a blade with a tough rubber surface and a body made of a heavy gauge steel. This will allow it to resist severe winter conditions and changes in temperature that cause other blades to freeze and become ineffective at clearing the snow from the windshield.

Some manufacturers have improved on the standard winter wiper blade by making the surface of silicone instead of rubber. This allows it to last longer than rubber ones and provides better clearing capability.

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Ice Racing Offers Chills and Thrills

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Winter is a time when you put your motorcycle to bed for a few months, right?

Not if you’re an ice racer. For ice racers, winter is when the fun begins.

OK, now hold on. How do you race on two wheels on ice? What, is the top speed 3 miles an hour, and the finisher who falls down the least number of times wins?

No, no, no. It’s nothing short of amazing how good your traction is on ice if you drive a couple hundred sheet metal screws into your tires. Are you starting to get the picture?

Ice racing is not just for motorcycles, either. Sure you’ll see bikes like the Yamaha YZ125 and various sizes of Kawasaki’s KLX. But you’ll also see quads, like Kawasaki’s KFX 450R and Suzuki’s QuadSport Z400. Plus, there are vintage classes for those who like the old iron. There are classes for riders of all ages, riding skill, type of ride… you name it.

And ice racing is a family affair. In many cases you’ll see Dad on his bike, Mom on hers, Junior on his kid-sized bike, and even little Susie on her even smaller bike, complete with screws in the tires and training wheels on the back. The really little ones don’t generally go that fast, but if you start them young you never know what heights they’ll reach.

Most of all it’s a great time for some high quality family time. Most everyone brings their grill or other sorts of camp cookwear and the parking lot becomes a scene very similar to the tailgate parties outside a football stadium. You come with friends or make friends there. You’ve always got friends around who share your interest. There’s no worry that your son or daughter is off getting into trouble with some questionable cohorts; you can see them right there zipping around that frozen track. And there’s no place else in the world they’d rather be right at this moment.

At the ice races you’ll have an action-packed day. When you’re not busy preparing your own bike for your heats maybe you’ll be helping one of the kids with theirs or watching them race. By definition, it’s cold out there so things move at a rapid pace. No one wants to be sitting around in the cold waiting for something to happen. Let’s go!

In the pits there’s always plenty going on. Riders are tearing down their bikes, looking to fix that glitch that knocked them out of their last heat. Or busily drilling more screws into their tires to replace those they lost earlier in the day. Or helping their buddies do the same.

Sure, it’s competition, and people are out there to win. But more than anything, they’re there to have fun. And is it fun to blast around on a frozen lake at 50 miles an hour, sliding through curves with ice crystals flying everywhere? I think you know the answer to that one.

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Tips for Driving In Snow

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Do you know how to drive during horrible weather conditions? Driving in snow can involve some hazardous situations; from the increased hours of darkness to the snow sleet and ice, one cannot be too cautious. A few minutes planning and thinking ahead will definitely prevent disasters especially in harsh winter conditions. We are usually aware of bad weather forecasts or when bad weather conditions are predicted but only about half of the road users bother with proper precautions according to the highways agency.

According to statistics a lot of road users still drive during bad weather conditions, this makes it more important to enlighten people about the dangers of driving in the snow and how they can prevent any disasters by planning ahead. The ability of your vehicle tyres to grip the road is extremely reduced when it is filled with ice or snow, this makes mundane tasks like slowing down, speeding up and changing direction dangerous/hazardous, so drivers need to be aware of this and be careful. If you have a vehicle that has cruise control, avoid using it when driving on slippery and icy roads.

The importance of having a winter weather kit and checking the weather forecast before starting a journey cannot be over-emphasized; one cannot predict what could go wrong when driving on a snowy road. Having a winter weather kit could save your life. Your winter weather kit can include jumper cables, electric flares, warming clothing and footwear, a first aid kit, candles and a lighter and energy foods and drinks.

Drivers who expect to be driving during winter should not only prepare their cars but also prepare themselves. Ensure that your car has been recently serviced, with all parts of the car functioning properly like ensuring your engine has anti-freeze and your fuel tank and washer fluid are topped up. Having some extra warm clothes in the car is definitely a must especially when travelling long distances. Also winter tyres or snow tyres should be considered as they help improve traction when starting and stopping your car.

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