Winter Driving in Omaha – December 2021

Even if you believe yourself to be a pretty experienced driver, winter driving can still have its challenges. It’s easy to forget that winter conditions like ice and snow demand more attention from the driver after months of dry and clear roads. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), 17% of all vehicle crashes occur during winter conditions. They offered some suggestions of their own so we can all work together to lower this number.

To start, safe driving begins before you even get on the road. Regular tune-ups and maintenance are the starting point for safe driving all year long. In the winter, be sure to give your vehicle’s battery, wipers, coolant, tires, and other systems extra attention. Before you get into your vehicle, be sure that your windows, forward sensors, headlights, tail lights, and backup camera are clear of ice and snow.

Winter conditions also require slow, cautious driving. It’s harder to control or stop your vehicle on a slick or snow-covered road, so increase the distance between you and the vehicle in front of you so that you will have adequate time to come to a stop. Even if you and your vehicle are prepared, crashes still happen and vehicles still break down. Don’t risk getting stranded in poor conditions without the proper materials, so be sure to keep blankets, flashlights, jumper cables, and flares or emergency lights in your vehicle. Even if you don’t need them, they could be used to help someone else!

Finally, safe driving – not just in the winter, but all year – requires seat belts for all passengers and appropriate car seats for children, as well as responsible driving. Make sure that everyone riding in your vehicle is buckled up, and that children are correctly strapped in their car seats. To learn more about how you can drive safely and maintain your vehicle this winter, we spoke to some local experts in the Omaha area.

Advice from an Attorney

Sometimes, in the event of a car accident, a lawyer is needed to help you pursue compensation for your injuries. The attorneys at Berry Law (jsberrylaw.com) are champions in these cases, and their experience in the field has allowed them to compile a list of tips and advice to help the community drive more safely. We spoke to Attorney Matt Aerni about how to handle winter driving:

“Although we know it is coming, the first appearance of winter driving weather is still an unpleasant surprise much of the time,” Matt said. “If you find yourself in a car accident this winter, the fact that the driving conditions were the result of the first winter drive of the year is not a defense you can rely on if you cause a crash that injures another person. Or looking at it another way, winter weather being the first such weather of the season is not a defense someone else can rely on when they cause a crash in which you are injured. Drivers are imputed with knowledge that their vehicles will handle different on icy and snowy roads than on dry pavement. This holds true from the first winter storm of the season until the last.”

Matt said that a driver is obligated to keep their vehicle under control, and this holds true even on slick roads. Don’t get intimidated by this obligation – it’s easy to abide by if you drive responsibily. This includes increasing the following distance between you and the car ahead and slowing down as necessary to account for road conditions. Just because there is a posted speed limit does not mean that limit applies to all types of conditions.

“Such weather further underscores the need to eliminate distractions, such as the cell phone, while driving,” Matt explained. “It is dangerous enough to look at the phone when driving on dry pavement. Doing so when on icy and snowy pavement unreasonably increases the chances of causing a crash that could hurt the driver, someone in the car with the driver, or someone in another vehicle. Keeping the phone out of your hands when driving, especially on slick roads, can go a long way to avoid causing a crash. You will also be avoiding the headache that comes with causing a crash, and the guilt and feelings of thinking, ‘If only I had not been looking at that text that did not have to be looked at.’”

If you find yourself in a car accident this winter, give the attorneys at Berry Law a call for a consultation. They can assist you in pursuing compensation to make up for medical costs, lost income, and future needs.

Plan Ahead

If your business owns company vehicles, it’s a good idea to invest in them to prepare for the coming winter season. We suggest contacting LincTrack GPS Solutions (linctrack.com), a national fleet management GPS solutions company that helps business owners monitor where their employees are when they are driving company vehicles.

“Our GPS tracking software is great for locating a vehicle if it’s stranded,” said Owner Kelly Jensen. “It’s also helpful for tracking vehicle maintenance. Our devices install in a matter of seconds using our new plug-and-play style GPS hardware. We also offer on-site installation in Nebraska and Iowa.”

LincTrack’s GPS software can also provide you with current asset location, position history, speed and landmark alerts, and extensive reporting, all without needing to purchase hardware. They use 4G integrated products, including 4K dash cams with AI that detects driver behavior and accident recovery footage from the vehicle. With the ice and snow that are soon going to be covering our roads, this is a great investment to make before your company vehicle finds itself stranded or in an accident.

Having spent over 15 years in the industry, Kelly knows a thing or two about safe driving, especially during the winter. He finds that most accidents are caused by driving too fast in poor weather conditions, so he advises to slow down and take your time.

“It’s important not to brake too hard,” Kelly said. “Pumping the brakes is a good method when sliding to a stop. If you end up sliding sideways, steer in the direction your car is traveling rather than trying to over-correct and turn the wheel to the opposite direction.”

Prioritize Protection

LUXE Automotive (luxeauto.com) is a used-car dealership that is unique in the industry due to their LUXE Assurance Protection Program – the coverage plan that costs you nothing. With this program, you can rest assured knowing that you’re protected from unexpected mechanical breakdown expenses with their complimentary 30 Days Limited Warranty and six to 12 months Limited Powertrain Warranty. They are the only dealer in the area that offers this 30 day guarantee and the six month / 7500 mile Powertrain Warranty that comes with almost every vehicle they sell.

“30 Days Limited Warranty covers any other unexpected mechanical breakdown repairs, parts, and labor at our dedicated network service centers,” said Ben Stecker, sales manager. “LUXE Assurance Protection offers coverage for one month or 1000 miles, whichever comes first with a $0 deductible. And with our Nationwide Warranty, you receive 24/7 roadside assistance, which is a great asset to have during the winter season.”

Ben recommended checking your wipers and washer fluid, as well as tire tread and air pressure before you hit the snowy roads this season. These are things that are easy to put off – until you find yourself stranded on the side of the road. Even if your vehicle is “winterized” and ready to go, always be prepared for things to go wrong.

“Keep safety equipment in your vehicle at all times, such as an ice scraper, snow brush, flashlight and batteries, jumper cables, and a first-aid kit,” Ben advised. “You will also want to stock up on blankets, gloves, hats, scarfs, and other winter gear in the event you find yourself stranded. Hopefully, you won’t need to use these extra items, but you may come across someone else who does.”

Vehicle Repair

The fact that 70% of the roads in the United States are located in snowy areas significantly increases the threat of an accident occurring, especially when you consider that driving on snowy roads can take your vehicle 10 times longer to come to a complete stop. Other causes of increased danger are the result of black ice, that often-transparent coating of ice that is nearly invisible to the human eye, as well as sudden heavy snowstorms that hit in Nebraska and decrease road visibility dramatically, plus damp sleet that turns the roads icy and slippery.

In the unfortunate event of a winter collision, the first concern is the condition and safety of all people involved. The next thing that often comes to mind is the condition of your vehicle. That’s where Cars R Us Auto Body, Inc. (carsrusautobody.com) of Omaha comes in. They always put forth the extra effort to ensure that their customers’ cars are fixed and restored to their pre-accident condition.

“Cars R Us Auto Body works with all insurance companies and delivers the finest customer service going—and we offer non-insurance auto-body repair for customers with older vehicles or who are otherwise paying out-of-pocket,” said Office Manager Melia Martin. “We also offer a variety of non-collision services, including headlamp reconditioning to avoid fogging headlights that limit your visibility at night and in storms even further, and rust repair through Krown Rust Control.”

Krown Rust Control is an environmentally friendly way to treat and prevent rust. When repairing a vehicle with rust, they can perform a full panel or partial panel replacement. They can also enforce preventative measures to keep rust from becoming an issue at all. It is suggested to treat your vehicle with rust protection every year to ensure that it is adequately protected from the aggressive road chemicals that are used for de-icing the streets. When utilizing the Krown Rust Control service, all qualified rust repairs have a warranty for five years.

“Rust is an unavoidable problem in Nebraska, so we suggest taking an extra step to prolong your car’s life and to minimize the damage done when rust does appear,” explained Melia. “Frequently washing your car, including the wheel wells and underneath the vehicle, can help to protect your vehicle. Hand washing is an ideal method, as it allows you to regularly examine your vehicle up close and identify rust before it becomes a bigger issue. To make cleaning your vehicle easier, apply a basic coat of wax.”

Another option for vehicle repair is the collision center at Huber Chevrolet and Cadillac (huberchevy.com). They offer auto body and collision repair services, including anything from paintless dent repairs to major fixes. At Huber, they say no job is too big or too small, and their talented staff will give you exactly what you paid for. We spoke to Service Manager David Bevins to learn more about what Huber has to offer this winter.

“Our full-service repair facility employs 22 well-trained technicians and four GM World Class Certified Technicians to ensure your vehicle is repaired right the first time,” said David. “There are only 1,268 World Class Master Technicians in the country, 17 of whom are in Nebraska, and Huber is grateful to have four of them!”

David said that the biggest reason they see vehicles in the collision repair shop during the winter is due to lack of vehicle maintenance or upkeep, driver inexperience, or driving too fast in poor winter conditions. Poor battery cause is most often the reason their 24-hour roadside assistance rescues stranded drivers.

“Winterize your vehicle by checking your tire pressure, age, and condition; battery age and condition; coolant level and condition; steering; suspension; and brake systems,” recommended David. “Bring your vehicle by our service center, and we can help you out. Our services include coolant system flush, induction/injection system service, tire replacement and alignment, and full and complete automotive maintenance and repair.”

Huber Chevrolet and Cadillac can price match any local tire price, and loaner vehicles are available with advance appointment. Courtesy transport can also take you home while your vehicle is being serviced. David also left us with one last piece of winter driving advice:

“Limit your speed to driving conditions rather than posted speed limits, and try to remember not to slam on your brakes!”

Keep it Clean

One of the easiest ways to keep your car in its best condition is by keeping it clean with regular washes, especially through the winter months. A great place to maintain a spotless ride is Club Car Wash (clubcarwash.com)! They offer a variety of washes ranging from a $6 Basic Wash to the ultimate $25 MVP Wash, so you can treat your car to your preference; all washes also come with free towels and vacuums.

“As winter weather begins to settle in, it is important to keep your vehicle clean and clear of road salt and snow that can lead to rust and corrosion,” recommended Regional Manager Trevor Seely. “At Club Car Wash, our heated tunnels, hot water prep spray, and 15+ blowers to dry your car can help you keep your vehicle in good shape. Rain or snow, Club Car Wash locations are always open above zero degrees to keep your car snow and salt free this winter!”

Club Car Wash is pleased to produce the gold standard of what everyone deserves from a car wash. They pride themselves not only with the quality of their washes, but with the additional amenities and friendly staff as well! They strive to be deeply rooted in the community by making fundraising for the local area a key pillar to their business values. When you purchase from Club Car Wash, you are also giving back to the community.

Winter driving can be intimidating and scary, but Omaha has many professionals that can help you get through it. Take the advice from these experts to prepare for winter weather and protect both yourself and your vehicle through these next few months.