Winter Driving Tips

The winter months are a lovely time in New Jersey. The tree covered snows and smell of fireplaces linger among every neighborhood. Unfortunately there is one major draw back, driving in snow and ice. The best advice is to not drive at all, if you can avoid it. If you can't here are some safe winter driving tips.

• Decrease your speed and make sure to leave extra space between you and the car between you.
• Brake slowly to avoid locking your wheels. If they do lock up, ease off the brakes.
• Keep your lights on in snowy conditions to increase your visibility to other drivers.
• If attempting a hill, make sure to put your car in a lower gear which increases traction.
• Do not use cruise control if you are on a highway.
• If your car has ABS brakes, which all new cars do, DO NOT pump your breaks. Instead apply steady pressure, the pumping you feel is normal and means the ABS is doing its job.
• It's not a good idea to pass plows and salt trucks. They have very limited visibility and the road ahead of them is probably in worse condition than the road behind them.
• Just because your car has four wheel drive, or all wheel drive, does not mean it can stop any better than other cars. Treat it the same as a car with front wheel, or rear wheel drive.

If your car is stuck:

• Do not spin your wheels, you are only digging yourself deeper and compacting the snow into ice.
• Turn your wheel side to side, this will push some snow away from your front tires.
• If you have a shovel, try removing the snow from the front and rear wheels.
• If you have any salt, sand, gravel, or even kitty litter in your car sprinkle it in the path of your tires. This will help you gain traction.

These tips will help you stay safe while driving in the winter conditions. These conditions are still unpredictable and treacherous. It's one of the most common times for minor car accidents that result in body damage. If this is the case it is a good idea to get in contact with a body shop professional. Bergen Brookside is an auto body repair shop in Hackensack that has years of experience and can assure your car is in like new condition ASAP.

Bergen Brookside Auto Body

83 Zabriskie St.
Hackensack, NJ 07601

201-342-8253

Keeping an Emergency Kit in your Car

When you are stuck on the road, being prepared is vital to staying safe and getting through the ordeal. In the winter, ice and snow can create huge problems for tow trucks and emergency response vehicles, and something that can someday save your life is a simple emergency kit of supplies and equipment. The New Jersey towing service at Bergen Brookside Auto Body and Towing can help you prepare one of these emergency car kits for yourself, so that you are not left in the freezing cold.

Have an ice scraper – although this isn’t necessarily going to save your life in the event of a breakdown, ice scrapers can certainly prevent winter driving hazards.

Flashlight – a flashlight is a good tool to have handy in the car at any time, but especially when there is short amounts of sunlight in the winter this item can be the difference between being blind or being able to get yourself out of a jam.

Extra washer fluid – the after effects of salt, ice and snow can smear grime all over your windows, making safe driving a challenge due to restricted vision. You will need some extra fluid at some point, and you want to have it on hand.

Extra gloves, boots and a jacket – if you are broken down, even the fastest and most efficient towing company in New Jersey might take some time to help you out. Don’t freeze, but prepare to have some extra warmth and be ready to wait it out if you need to.

Flares – a flare alerts traffic to your situation and catches the attention of responders to help you. By having flares, you protect yourself as well as other motorists.

These are just some helpful tips, but when you find yourself stranded on the road this winter you can always depend on the experts at Bergen Brookside to help you in a fast, convenient and professional manner. We are contracted with AAA in over 20 municipalities as well as in the County of Bergen and the NJ Turnpike Authority due to our excellence in towing and our unparalleled customer satisfaction.

Bergen Brookside

83-85 Zabriskie St.

Hackensack, NJ 07601

201-342-8253

Paramus Auto Body Repair Tips

We all hope that we never need to deal with an emergency car breakdown, but in the event that we do it is important to know what to do in order to stay safe. The Paramus auto body repair experts at Bergen Brookside have compiled some basic information that every driver should know in case of emergency.

• Get off the road as fast as possible if your car can still move, and stop in a way where you can see oncoming traffic as well as allowing them to see you.
• Do not leave the car if you are stuck on the highway. Attempting to cross the road on foot is extremely dangerous both for you as well as other drivers. Stay in the car – most highways are frequently patrolled by police who can give you assistance.
• Always put your emergency blinkers on so that other cars know you are not moving. If you are stopped at night, you should also use emergency flares a minimum of six feet behind your car in order to let other drivers know something is wrong.
• If you have a flat tire, do not attempt to replace it unless you are safely on the side of the road.

Every driver must be prepared to deal with the worst at any time – even when nothing seems to be wrong. Just by knowing some simple facts and tips about emergency breakdowns, you can prevent harm to yourself, your passengers and other drivers as well. Bergen Brookside offers auto body and towing services in Paramus, NJ that can get you back on the road quickly. Call today to ask an expert about what our auto repair in Paramus can do for you.

Bergen Brookside
83-85 Zabriskie St.
Hackensack, NJ 07601
201-342-8253