driving - Jack and Jill of All Tires

Dec 03

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Get Ready for the Snow and Ice

Here are some important winter driving and safety tips

By Emry Joy | News, Repair Tips, Safety

Before you venture out into the snow and ice this winter, be sure that you have winter tires to increase your safety on the road.

Purchase the Jack and Jill of All Tires to help you change your winter tires today!

Even though driving may feel like second nature, when the weather changes the road conditions, we must be extra cautious to ensure the safety of ourselves and others.

Here are some tips to help navigate through the snow and ice:

Drive Slowly

Slow and steady really wins the race! When there’s lots of snow and ice on the ground, driving in slower speeds will help your tires gain more traction and control while on the road.

Keep Your Distance

The more space you keep between you and the vehicle in front, the more time you have to stop or react to sudden action on the road.

Keep Moving

Don’t stop on snow or ice if you can avoid it. It’s difficult to regain inertia when your tires have stopped moving, so we suggest keeping a steady pace when making a turn or approaching a light (U.S. News & World Report).

How to prevent problems on the road

While driving cautiously can help you be safe on the road, there are other ways you can ensure safety throughout your vehicle and travels:

1. Plan your trip and check for weather and road conditions.

Check weather updates from your local news station OR use a weather app on your phone to get the latest conditions of where you are and where you’re going.

2. If you’re in an area that receives snow, consider winter tires.

Check out our previous blog post to learn about this seasons’ weather predictions across Canada and U.S.

3. Carry extra windshield fluid.

Winter aka ‘washer fluid season’ calls for lots of dirt, salt and debris on the road that will impact your visibility while driving. It’s always important to be topped up, but especially during the winter months. Keeping extra washer fluid in your car is a great way to stay safe on the road.

4. Pack an emergency kit.

You can’t plan for an accident – so it’s important to be prepared for when one happens. Keeping a compact emergency kit in your vehicle will get you through the more common dead batteries to more serious roadside incidences. The Get Jacked Safety Kit comes with the tools you need to get yourself out of trouble and items to keep you comfortable until help arrives.

snow and ice

“Prevention is better than recovery.”

Be sure to check your battery, ignition system, lights, brakes, tire pressure, windshield wipers, heating and cooling systems!

Safe travels this winter.

Nov 05

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Protect Your Vehicle from Road Salt this Winter

3 ways to help protect your car from salt, snow, dirt and debris.

By Emry Joy | Car Cleaning, News, Repair Tips, Safety

Although we may love the idea of a beautiful White Christmas, your car sure doesn’t. If you’re driving on the road often, your vehicle may pick up lots of dirt, salt, rocks and other debris hidden in the snow.

Here are 3 ways to keep the exterior and interior of your car clean this winter:

1. Paint Protector

Winter weather conditions take a toll on the exterior of your car. Just like when you wear gloves, a hat, and coats to endure the snow and cold, your car also deserves some added protection.

Your vehicle’s paint protects the metal from outside elements like ice, salt and debris. Using paint protector will keep the paint in shape and ensure your vehicle is not exposed to corrosive properties (washmenow.ca).

Now is the perfect time to add a layer of protection to your car before the snow and salt start hitting the road. You can either purchase a paint protector and apply it yourself or take your car to a detail shop.

Salt

3. A Car Wash Goes a Long Way

One element of winter driving that causes the most exterior damage to your vehicle is road salt. Salt on the road does have benefits for safer driving, however it can cause some damage to your exterior over time.

In-N-Out-Car-Wash explains that “Salt can get into all the cracks and crevasses of your car, waiting for the spring when the weather warms up and it actively starts to produce rust and corrosion.”

Washing your car throughout the winter season is a great way to keep the bottom and sides of your car clean and prevent rust or deterioration.

There are a few options to choose from when washing your car this winter:

A single wash at your local gas station, estimated between $7.99-$14.99 CAD depending on the service
Specialty car wash shops such as In-N-Out-Car-Wash
Season passes offered at local gas stations

3. Don’t Forget to Look Down

Salt, snow, mud and dirt not only make a mess of your exterior but also collect inside. When getting into a vehicle, most of us are focused on getting away from the cold that we don’t pay attention to the mess we bring in.

If you haven’t done so already, look into purchasing rubber floor mats for your car. Even though most cars have a rubber base, a mat will make cleaning out dirt and salt much easier and allow you to keep it clean more often.

Tip: To clean the mats themselves, use a rim and tire cleaner to get rid of the stains the salt leaves behind.

Salt

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Sep 09

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5 Driving Habits You Should Break

Texting? Eating? Loud music? Learn how some of these habits are dangerous on the road!

By Emry Joy | Repair Tips, Safety

For most people driving has become second nature. Doing an activity so seamlessly every day can cause us to pick up some bad habits that could potentially put us in danger on the road!

1. Using your cellphone

We know by now that texting or talking on the phone is the most dangerous habit to have while driving. Our attention is focused on our device and not on the road, and is a major cause of distraction and accidents. Different provinces and states have their own legal ways of controlling the use of devices while driving.

For the safety of yourself and others on the road, be sure to put your phone away or pull over to send a text or take an important phone call.

2. Eating while driving

With all of these quick drive-thru options, it’s hard to resist grabbing your morning coffee with a quick breakfast, or getting an easy lunch on the go. However, eating while driving is a habit that is just as dangerous as being on the phone.

Your mind is attempting to focus on the road while also eating, drinking and trying not to make a mess. It’s best as the driver to finish your food before heading back on the road or wait until you reach your destination.

bad habits: eating while driving

3. Entertaining your passengers

Your vehicle is an easy place to socialise with your family or friends. Whether it’s engaging in conversation, playing a movie for those in the back or trying to talk with everyone; it can all be too distracting.

Again your mind is focusing on the people, the conversations and the other things around you. Your attention may draw towards what’s happening inside the car rather than outside of it.

As a driver, you hold a responsibility to keep your passengers safe, so attempting to entertain them while also focusing on the road is a bad habit.

4. Pets

Who wouldn’t want their best friend riding shot-gun? Having your pet beside you may seem like a good idea, however trying to drive while also taking care of your pet that needs attention is dangerous for not only you but the dog as well. A dog on your lap limits your ability to manoeuvre the car, especially during a collision. Even in the passenger’s seat, your dog could be severely injured by an airbag.

Results from a AAA NEWSROOM SURVEY included this statistic:

An unrestrained 10-pound dog in a crash at only 30 mph (48 Kph) will exert roughly 300 pounds of pressure, while an unrestrained 80-pound dog in a crash at only 30 mph will exert approximately 2,400 pounds of pressure.

The safest place to keep your dog is in the backseat secured by a seatbelt seatbelt or in a crate!

5. Loud music

Of course we all love to belt out to our favourite tunes! And if you don’t turn into a professional karaoke singer when you drive, are you even driving? But this little habit can have you singing and dancing in your seat and cause you to lose focus on the road.

We aren’t saying to never play your music, but make sure to keep the volume at a level where you can pay attention to the road and your surroundings; more importantly so you can hear other drivers and first responders.

Bad Habits

Make your drive safer for you and your passengers by breaking these 5 habits!

Want to learn more about safety tips on the road? Check out our other blog posts here for more information about tire safety and travel tips!

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