New England Winter Driving and Your Adaptive
Mobility Equipment andWheelchair
Van
Other than last few weeks we haven’t exactly had the snowfall to prove it, but winter is here, and it’s time to think of the preventative measures each of us can take to make winter driving easier and safer.
If you happen to be a wheelchair user, these precautions are even more important because you can’t necessarily catch a ride away with someone passing by if you slide off the road or get stranded.
New England Winter Driving Tips to Remember:
- Make sure you’re wearing the right clothing. Should the worst happen and you get stranded in your wheelchair van, you’ll want to be sure you’re wearing warm layers and all the necessary gear it takes to stay warm. Keep some blankets, food and water in your van!
- A basic step many people overlook: scrape the snow off your van! Granted if you’re a wheelchair user, this is a little easier said than done.
- Ever had a sheet of snow slide down your roof and onto your windshield for a few terrifying seconds? Avoid that panic by clearing snow off from the top down. Start at the roof, and make your way down, paying close attention to headlights, taillights, and mirrors.
- Keep some de-icer on hand to help melt ice on mirrors, windows and door locks. Clear whatever ice remains with an ice scraper. Gaskets lubricated with silicon just before a ice storm may keep your door from freezing shut.
- If you are driving on tires with bad tread and improper inflation, you’re asking for trouble.
Whether you're driving a Automotive Innovations van, Vantage Mobility International van, BraunAbility van or not, we want you to be safe.
Feel free to contact us at 508-697-6006 with and questions regarding mobility/wheelchair vans in New England.
Please do yourself and everyone else on the road a favor and take the proper precautions, both before you hit the road and once you’re on it. Safe travels, everyone!
