LITTLE ROCK (KTHV) - The projected snow on the way means dangerous driving on the way on area roads and highways.
The last place any of us want to be during a snow storm, and especially the week of Christmas, is stuck on the roads. THV 11 News caught up with a Little Rock mechanic to find out about some red flags to keep an eye on sooner than later.
It was the end of the day at the Goodyear Auto shop in West Little Rock, and as the last garage closed for the holiday, Owner Glen Keathley knew business could pick up after Christmas if Arkansas gets the projected snow storm.
"Very likely there could be some. That does happen," Keathley said.
To avoid a trip to the repair shop, Keathley offered a few things to look out for starting with the right design of your tires.
"We have a way of evacuating or helping to evacuate water and snow (on the tire), the little cuts in the tread are there to give you extra biting edges for wet and for traction," Keathley said, pointing to the tire.
Also, check your car battery because corrosion around the battery cables may be another problem.
"If you can do it right, take off the cap off and make sure there is liquid inside, if its extra low there may be a problem going on," Keathley said. "If you're at home and you're stuck, you might take those off, clean them up."
You want to watch your car's coolant, too.
"Just in case something odd happens like a leak or something to make it low, you want to make sure you have adequate coolant," Keathley said. "On this coolant recovery tank, it has a place where it tells you when it's full or when you should add some."
Just monitor these things or get them checked out if needed along, and use some common sense on the road.
"When you're driving be very careful, start slow, stop slow, look ahead, do things like that," Keathley said.
If you do run into some slippery road conditions, THV 11 News received some advice from Thompson Defensive Driving Systems of Little Rock.
Owner Ron Routh said if you slide on the road, there are two things to remember. First, don't slam on the breaks right away, and while it may sound weird, Routh said steer your vehicle into the slide because it puts the wheels going in the same path.
Keathley also recommended throwing some emergency things together in the trunk of a car including a blanket and some bottled water.
Remember if you don't have to drive, you shouldn't.