Spring Driving

It is often said that “April showers bring May flowers”, which is certainly true.  Another thing the April moisture offers us is adverse driving conditions.  Thawing snow can cause icy patches especially in shady areas, on bridges and on overpasses.  Those hazards combined with rain water caused by all of that April inclemency can make driving situations treacherous.  The roads become even more ferocious when rain and melting ice mixes with the oil and grind already entrenched on the streets.  Thankfully there are some things you can do to prepare yourself for Spring driving season so you may enjoy one of the more refreshing times of the year without incident.

One major rule, which is standard for all seasons, is to maintain the proper tire pressure. When our tires are correctly inflated it helps us drive steadier and not slip and slide all over our streets.  Finding the amount of air your tire keeps is easy when you refer to your vehicle's owner's manual.  Speaking of tires, you should never get tired of rotating them every 5000 miles.  That will keep equal tread on them and keep you driving safer.  All tires should have at least 2/32 inch of depth on them to be considered good driving shape.  A good rule of thumb is to have your tires checked at the beginning of each new season, or if you don't put as many miles on your car as most drivers, each time you get your oil changed.  Then you can think of it as taking “your baby” out for a drink and some new shoes!

Large puddles can also make Spring driving disastrous.  Splashing water adversely affects your breaks not to mention it impairs both you and other driver's vision.  It is difficult at times to see these puddles while driving at night in the rain.  That's why it is sage advice to have all of your lights checked before headed out of the garage.  Those lights include headlights, tail lights, break lights, reflectors and turn signals.  In other words, make sure it blinks so you don't sink!  Having your wiper blades in nice working order goes hand in hand with keeping your lights shining.  Any reputable service representative can tell you if your car's blades are acceptable, but basically if you can't see where you are going in a rainstorm you should probably consider changing your wiper blades.  Remember, people are hard to see in rain and fog so you don't need any added obstacles reducing your chances of avoiding a horrible accident.

Not all Spring driving is done in stormy settings.  This season is synonymous with sunshine and warmer days and that means more people are out and about.  Be leery of individuals who are out jogging or walking.  Many neighborhoods do not furnish its friends with sidewalks so the street is the only pavement those people have to trot on.  Although there are beautiful bike paths in a lot of metropolis', bikers still need to get to those private paths or just choose to ride around the block.  Slow down when you see your mountain bike brothers and sisters.  Boys on bigger bikes are also more prevalent in the pretty weather. Make sure you allow motorcyclists the same honors you would any other motor vehicle operator.  Of course, kids come out of their caves once the sun starts shining and they are usually careless when it comes to playing outside.  Be on the lookout for youngsters running into the streets, especially when chasing toys are balls they are kicking around.  All of the early season rain also leads to our lawns becoming lusher so be sure to pay attention to those people mowing their grass.  As is the case for all of the above mentioned groups, lawn manicurists many times where headsets or ear buds to avoid the noise and listen to soothing music.  While those tunes may tickle their fancy they may also put their minds in other dimensions, places where paying attention to cars is unnecessary.  Lawn cutting service trucks and trailers are a staple of the season and are parked in areas that can be dangerous.  Slow down and be extra sure there is no oncoming traffic before moving around these large obstructions.  Be careful to avoid any unwanted flying objects shooting loose from the lawnmower too.  These UFO's don't carry martians, but can carry heavy insurance claims if they strike your windshield.

People are not the only creatures that are crawling around in the Spring.  Animals that have been sleeping all winter are eager to roam the roads in freedom.  That freedom does not include being squashed by our newly inflated tires.  Stay clear of animals big and small so they can enjoy their months of not being in a somnambulist state.  If people and pets are at peace, you can be too as the Spring season saunters into Summer.