• Home
  • Get A Quote
  • Customer Service
  • Refer a Friend
  • About Us
  • Location Map
  • Employee Directory
  • Privacy Policy
  • Contact Us
255 W. Uwchlan Avenue 
Downingtown, PA 19335 
610-269-4500
Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Google+ Yelp Instagram
Home

We’re Here Today For Your Tomorrows

Contact Us! 610-269-4500 info@miainc.com
  • Home
  • Our Products
    • Automobile
    • Homeowners
    • Motorcycle
    • Business & Commercial
    • Health
    • Life
    • Pet
  • Additional Services
    • Report A Claim
    • Request A Certificate
    • Make a Payment
    • Benefits Portal
    • Risk Management
  • Seminars
    • Teen Driver
    • Business Killer's
    • College Planning
    • 21st Century Retirement
    • Seminar Calendar
  • Blog
  • About Us
    • About Miller's
    • Employee Directory
    • Customer Testimonials
    • Community Involvement & Advertising
    • Miller's Reach Out Program
    • Recogniton/Awards
    • Location Map & Agency Hours
    • Privacy Policy
  • Contact Us
    • Contact Us
    • Join Our Newsletter
  • Join the Team
Auto Insurance AUTO Read More
Homeowners Insurance HOME Read More
Business Insurance BUSINESS Read More
Life Insurance LIFE Read More
Health Insurance HEALTH & EMPLOYEE BENEFITS Read More
Motorcycle Insurance MOTORCYCLE Read More
Home > Blog > Debunked: The 7 Biggest Winter Driving Myths
THURSDAY, JANUARY 7, 2021

Debunked: The 7 Biggest Winter Driving Myths

a car covered in snow

From the threat of black ice to a blinding whiteout, most drivers know to take extra caution when winter rolls around. Yet could you be heeding advice that has no basis in truth? Find out now.

Myth 1: You should let your car idle before driving in cold weather. Running your car before hitting the road wastes time and fuel. Even worse, the carbon monoxide a car emits can be harmful to your health. The “idling car” myth probably gained traction back when cars didn’t have technology to properly warm a carburetor. Today, that’s not a concern, which is why many experts recommend not bothering with this extra step.

Myth 2: Letting a little air out of your tires will create better traction. This is another myth that isn’t only wrong, but potentially dangerous. Tires were meant to be inflated to a specific pressure per square inch (or psi—find your car’s by looking in the driver’s side door jamb or in your owner’s manual). Keeping them underinflated won't give your wheels better traction—in fact, it may make it harder to stop.

Myth 3: Four-wheel drive makes it totally safe to drive in the snow. Four-wheel drive is definitely a bonus when it comes to driving in snow, but it doesn’t make it any easier to stop when driving in snow. That’s because stopping relies more on having the right snow tires and driving correctly.

Myth 4: Pouring hot water on your windshield makes ice melt fast. Definitely try another hack for clearing snow and ice off your car, because hot water could crack your glass.

Myth 5: Snow tires are a waste  of money. See Myth 3.

Myth 6: You only need two snow tires. Only buying and using two snow tires for your wheels can create a dangerous imbalance. For safety’s sake, it’s worth it to invest in four snow tires.

Myth 7: Put your car in neutral if you start to skid. This myth had some truth to it back when most cars were rear-wheel drive with no ABS and automatic transmission. With today’s cars, shifting into neutral when you start to skid won’t help things—and it could make you lose even more control over your car. A better option is to leave your car in gear and carefully steer your car in the direction the rear wheels are sliding.

Bonus myth: Most of your body heat escapes through your head. Sorry, but the phrase you’ve probably heard a hundred times is also false. The myth is believed to be a flawed interpretation of a vaguely scientific experiment the U.S. military conducted in the 1950s. It involved volunteers dressed in Arctic survival suits who were exposed to bitterly cold conditions. Because their heads were the only part of their bodies left uncovered, most of their heat was lost that way.

 

This article brought to you by our friends at Erie Insurance. Miller's would like to extend it's gratitude to Erie Insurance for both being a wonderful business ally and for letting us use the articles found on their blog, Eriesense.

Posted 11:48 AM

Tags: winter driving
Share |


No Comments


Post a Comment
Required
Required (Not Displayed)
Required


All comments are moderated and stripped of HTML.

NOTICE: This blog and website are made available by the publisher for educational and informational purposes only. It is not be used as a substitute for competent insurance, legal, or tax advice from a licensed professional in your state. By using this blog site you understand that there is no broker client relationship between you and the blog and website publisher.
Blog Archive
  • 2021
  • 2020
  • 2019
  • 2018
  • 2017
  • 2016
  • 2015
  • 2014

  • insurance(58)
  • auto insurance(50)
  • homeowners(47)
  • life insurance(36)
  • tips(30)
  • homesense(29)
  • home sense(24)
  • safety(24)
  • homeowner insurance(19)
  • coverage(19)
  • health insurance(18)
  • home insurance(16)
  • savings(15)
  • car sense(12)
  • downingtown(11)
  • business insurance(11)
  • auto(11)
  • motorcycle insurance(10)
  • pa(8)
  • commercial auto insurance(7)
  • winter(7)
  • life(7)
  • driving(7)
  • renter's insurance(6)
  • homeowner's(6)
  • pennsylvania(5)
  • college(5)
  • homeowner's insurance(5)
  • car(4)
  • downington(4)
  • car insurance(4)
  • homeowners insurance(3)
  • business sense(3)
  • kitchen(3)
  • health(3)
  • halloween(3)
  • diy(3)
  • autumn(3)
  • business(3)
  • thanksgiving(3)
  • school(2)
  • holidays(2)
  • motorcycle(2)
  • grilling(2)
  • shopping(2)
  • medicare(2)
  • frozen pipes(2)
  • outdoors(2)
  • safe driving(2)
  • fire safety(2)

View Mobile Version
Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn
Instagram
Erie Insurance
Westfield
Grange
Progressive
Eastern Alliance Insurance Group
Lackawanna Insurance Group
Independence
Facebook Logo

Resources

Home About Contact Seminars Quotes Payments Certificates Claims

Contact Us

map
  • Mailing Address
  • 255 W. Uwchlan Avenue
  • Downingtown, PA 19335
  • _
  • O: (610) 269-4500
  • E: info@miainc.com
  • _
  • Office Hours
  • M -Fri 8am-6pm
  • Sat and Sun - Closed
© Copyright. All rights reserved.
Powered by Insurance Website Builder
Reach out and refer someone to us so we can give back to the community!
Every referral we receive, $5 will be donated to our Spotlight Charity of the quarter!