Winter driving. Sigh. If operating a vehicle in that fluffy white stuff freaks you out, rest assured, it is like riding a bike. Simply using common sense and patience (and some consistent practice) will help you get the hang of it. If you have booked vacation rentals in South Lake Tahoe during the winter months before, you know that snow adds a little something extra to the travel experience. While beautiful to look at, you become a part of a long line of weekend warriors headed to the mountain to get some runs in. While the regulars are familiar with these conditions and drive accordingly, we sometimes see a few folks that think their 4WD yields some kind of super power that can handle icy roads at 40 mph. It can’t. If you have booked vacation rentals in South Lake Tahoe and see unexpected snow in the forecast, you don’t need to cancel and wait for dry roads. While this winter hasn’t been as epic as last year, being prepared is always key. Any long time local will tell you that they have seen snow happen every month of the year (this means July and August folks!) and it can happen at any moment. So if you are booking vacation rentals in South Lake Tahoe so you can ski or ride this winter and the forecast doesn’t have any snow, you can still plan ahead with these tips just in case.
1.) Check the road conditions before and during your travel. While Mother Nature’s weather patterns can change drastically, keeping an eye on it to and from will help you know what to expect as you navigate your way to vacation rentals in South Lake Tahoe.
2.) Drive slowly and stay away from quick actions like turning, speeding up or braking. Also give lots of following distance. This will allow you to maneuver your car safely and slowly in case someone in front of you is fish tailing, flips or hits another car.
3.) Being mindful of other people around you also allows you to prepare for different scenarios. Especially at intersections as some people aren’t always able to stop in time for that red light.
4.) 4WD vehicles are not magic, as previously discussed. If you have South Lake Tahoe vacation rentals booked, know that when you are traveling to and from, you aren’t exempt from using these tips. Also note that while you may be prepared, other people may not.
5.) Consider ice and snow tires. If you don’t have the appropriate tires, consider getting them if you plan on booking South Lake Tahoe vacation rentals frequently through out the winter. If you only plan to visit one or two times, get chains and learn how to put them on. There are plenty of places to put them on before you stop and chain control.
6.) If you do find yourself slipping, take your foot off the brake so your ABS doesn’t lock up your brakes. Simply take a deep breath and turn your tires in the direction the rear of your car is sliding.
Luckily, being in a mountain town, we are no stranger to these conditions and we have a pretty consistent snow removal company. They supply car, van, minibus & truck’s during times of emergency so that helps a lot of the locals. Of course, depending on how heavy the snow fall is, removal isn’t always immediate. Some South Lake Tahoe vacation rentals include snow removal, so you can find out at time of booking. Also note that you cannot park on the street during snow storms. It is hard for snow removal to see vehicles buried under the snow in the dark. If they hit your vehicle, they are not liable. Always plan ahead and park in the driveway or garage. Also, keep an excellent work bench for the garage so that you can work on your car without any hindrance.
For the latest road conditions for both Nevada & California, check out California road conditions online or call 1-800-427-ROAD (7623) or 916-445-7623. For road conditions in Nevada contact the Nevada Department of Transportation at 877-687-6237.
– Thinking about wrapping your car with advertisement signs? Visit Fleet Wrap HQ to learn how.
Leave a Reply