Winter Driving – December 2024

No matter how long a person lives in Nebraska, the unpredictable weather still seems to come as a shock every year. This year, the winter feels have been pushed back following a late-arriving autumn. But, at some point or another, winter always hits hard and fast in the Midwest.

Nebraskans may not know when winter will hit but knows it surely will—it being something for which one needs to thoroughly prepare. Nebraska weather changes its mind like a preteen, so it is important to take precautions and be as proactive as possible, especially when it comes to the vehicles that will be navigating the roads in icy, slick conditions.

With the help of these local experts, Lincoln drivers can feel prepared for the road conditions that lie ahead.

Winter driving is challenging, but to be frank, Nebraska driving is just plain hazardous. The importance of taking precautions to help ensure safety on the road can not be overstated. According to A1 Automotive (a1autolincoln.com), incorporating the following tips will make this season’s holiday journeys safe, relaxed and free from preventable dangers:

• Prepare/Maintain the Vehicle: Check the battery, brakes and tires, and ensure all essential fluids are at the proper level. Equip the vehicle with winter tires, and keep a winter emergency kit on hand, which should include items like an ice scraper, a shovel, a phone charger, a flashlight, blankets and non-perishable food. While driving, maintain good visibility by regularly cleaning the windows, lights and mirrors.
• Drive Slowly and Smoothly: Slow down and drive at a safe, controlled speed. Avoid sudden acceleration, braking or sharp turns to prevent skidding. If the vehicle starts to skid, steer in the desired direction. Avoid slamming on the brakes or overcorrecting. Gentle, controlled movements of the steering wheel are key to regaining control. It is also beneficial to increase the following distance from the vehicle in front to allow for more reaction time.
• Stay Informed: Pay attention to weather forecasts and road condition updates. If conditions are extremely treacherous, consider delaying the trip or finding an alternative route. If one plans on driving in dangerous conditions, notify someone about the travel plans and expected arrival time.

“Winter driving demands caution, preparation and the ability to adapt to changing conditions. With A1 Automotive, you’ll be equipped to navigate all winter conditions, from snow and ice to reduced visibility and cold temperatures,” assures A1 Automotive Owner Kendall Warnock.

It’s always better to arrive at a destination late and unscathed than to risk one’s own or family’s safety by rushing in dangerous winter conditions with an underequipped or unprepared vehicle. The first step in being prepared for Nebraska’s notoriously brutal winters is to prepare and maintain one’s vehicle, and A1 Automotive has the expertise to ensure that happens.

General auto care is imperative, but one should also have a plan for when the absolute worst happens. Collision damage often happens quickly during the winter, surprising the driver. After a collision, things can feel uncertain. One may wonder how to talk to an insurance company about what happened or if the vehicle can even be repaired. Whether it’s minor damage from weather or major damage from another vehicle, Tracy’s Collision Center’s (tracysbodyshop.com) technicians carefully restores any vehicle to its original factory appearance. At Tracy’s, once repairs are complete, clients can be as confident in their vehicle’s performance as they were the day they bought it.

Tracy’s has been in the collision repair industry for fifty years. Tracy’s staff can work with any insurance company to help get any vehicle back to its pre-accident condition. Tracy’s technicians use state of the art equipment and the highest quality parts for repairs and strives for clear communication with its customers before, during and after the repair process.

“Our vision as a Lincoln-based business is to make the repair part of a collision experience easier for our customers and give back to the communities that have supported us over the years,” says Owner Tom Tracy.

Tracy’s mission is simple: be honest, fix the car right and treat people fairly. Tracy’s continues to re-invest in its company with technician training and state of the art equipment. By staying true to its values, it continues to pursue excellence in meeting the high standards of safety and performance that its customers expect, especially during these slick, snowy and cold winter months.

If there is one thing to invest in to help prevent collisions altogether, it’s new tires. Vehicles are complex, and most people aren’t familiar with nitty gritty of cars and tires. A lot of the maintenance needs cars require never even cross many peoples’ minds. inMOTION Auto Care (inmotionautocare.com) thinks of everything its customers don’t, making its primary aim to provide an exceptional customer-service experience for tire repair, so its clients can get right back on the road!

inMOTION Auto Repair is Lincoln’s newest Authorized Michelin, BF Goodrich and Uniroyal dealer. As an Authorized Dealer, inMOTION Auto Repair is able to be competitively priced while still offering exclusive Tire Rebates multiple times a year! Not only will clients get the rebate, but for convenience, inMOTION Auto Repair submits the rebates on the clients’ behalves.

inMOTION Auto Repair is a one-stop shop, selling, servicing and repairing automotive and light truck tires. inMOTION Auto Repair provides additional benefits aside from its competitive pricing too, such as its Tire Protection plan, which is included with the purchase of four tires and an alignment. Benefits include:

• FREE tire rotations for the life of the tires
• FREE alignment checks for the life of the tires
• FREE flat tire patch repairs for the life of the tires
• FREE 3-year Nationwide Road Hazard Coverage, up to $150 per tire (may be prorated based on tread depth)
• FREE $299 Everywhere Program, expense reimbursement if one has troubles while traveling
• FREE 24-Hour Roadside Assistance Program, covers towing, lock out service, jump starts and more

Explore inMOTION Auto Repair’s Tires Anytime Online Store to research, price and purchase tires anytime, from anywhere! inMOTION Auto Care worries about and attends to cars’ winter needs, so Lincoln drivers can travel stress-free and safely on this season’s winter roads.

It is true that common challenges drivers face during the winter months include maintaining proper tire pressure, the thickening of engine fluids, making the vehicle work much harder, reduced battery efficiency and corrosion from road salt, which can lead to rust and damage to key parts on a vehicle.

Establishing proper maintenance on one’s vehicle is important for a multitude of reasons including safety, performance, longevity, cost-efficiency, resale value and environmental impact. By maintaining a vehicle’s critical systems, such as brakes, tires and lights, one can help prevent devastating accidents. However, there are preventative measures that can be taken to ensure one doesn’t have to file a claim this winter season.

“You can take precautions to prepare your vehicle for the winter months by having your mechanic test your battery, inspect your tire tread and replace your oil with a one that is of “winter-grade,” says American Family Insurance Agent Ashley Freese at Ashley Freese & Associates Inc. (amfam.com) “You should also check your antifreeze levels/concentration and replace your wiper blades if there is any kind of damage. Also, purchase an emergency kit for your vehicle!”

Even if one takes every proactive step imaginable, accidents still happen, but thankfully, American Family Insurance guarantees a stress-free, simple claim process. American Family Insurance understands that this doesn’t look the same for every driver too. American Family Insurance offers a host of utilities that assist its clients in maintaining proper functionality of their vehicles. These utilities include the MyAmFam App, which simplifies the client’s policy and provides every tool he/she needs, and American Family Insurance’s 24-Hour Emergency Roadside Assistance program, which provides towing, locksmith and dead-battery services at the click of a button.

American Family Insurance also offers a program to help clients find qualified repair shops, ensuring repairs are done properly the first time! American Family Insurance’s partnership with Safelite AutoGlass gives its clients the opportunity to repair rock chips in their windshields at no cost.

There are affordable, DIY tips and tricks to keep one’s car protected this winter too. American Family Insurance recommends:

• Keeping one’s gas tank level above half. This reduces condensation build up, which leads to frozen gas lines.
• Covering windshield wipers when one has to park outdoors. This prevents the rubber components from freezing and cracking.
• Apply cooking spray on the car’s door seals. This prevents the doors from freezing shut and water from freezing in the cracks.
• Create an “at-home” defroster by mixing three parts vinegar with one part water and spraying the mixture on the car’s windshield/windows. This prevents a buildup of frost/ice that will wear on the vehicle, which can cause stress fractures and cracking.

Shelter Insurance (shelterinsurance.com) Agent Matt Moorhead agrees that before one hits the icy roads, one should make sure one will be covered if the worst happens.

When driving on icy roads, accidents can happen that even the best drivers can’t avoid. Reviewing types of car insurance coverage with Shelter Insurance Agent Moorhead is a great way to ensure one has the proper coverages to keep one on the road. The state of Nebraska has a set minimum amount of insurance one needs to register a vehicle, but this does not include the coverage one would need in case of an injury accident, nor does it account for the repair of one’s own car.

One should consider the pros and cons of optional coverages to ensure one has the best possible coverage for best possible premium. If one doesn’t have adequate liability, uninsured motorist and underinsured motorist coverage or rental reimbursement, an accident can go from bad to worse.

Connect with Moorhead to learn more about what coverage is going to be best for one’s own unique situation, which is not the same for every individual. Shelter Insurance is there to walk anyone through his/her coverage, explaining everything in detail to help find one the best options.

“Sometimes, people are drawn to those TV ads that suggest getting a quick online quote to save them 15% or more on their car insurance, leading people to believe the cheapest price is the best deal. However, with insurance, it’s crucial to remember that the lowest price might not offer the best coverage. I’m here to help you understand the details and ensure you get the coverage that truly fits your needs,” asserts Moorhead, Agent at Shelter Insurance.

Driving safely this winter is the priority. However, the second priority is to look good while traveling. JetSplash (jetsplash.com) not only helps its clients look squeaky clean and stylish during holiday travel, but its washes also help further protect cars from the harsh winter climate.

It is especially important for one to wash one’s car in the winter because road salt used to melt snow and ice can be highly corrosive to a car’s paint and undercarriage, which can lead to rust and damage if it’s not regularly removed. Frequent visits to JetSplash during the winter helps protect one’s vehicle from this corrosion by keeping the salt off the metal components.

JetSplash helps with these challenges by offering seasonal washes that effectively remove salt, prevent rust and keep the car’s exterior protected. Additionally, JetSplash’s Jet Gloss ceramic coating with nanographene adds an extra layer of defense against harsh winter elements, which helps minimize the damage from salt and road debris.

Jet Gloss ceramic goes beyond a regular wash. Jet Gloss is designed to provide an ultra-smooth, protective finish, which shields against debris and wear, especially during the harsher months. JetSplash’s streamlined service process means its customers get professional care without the hassle.

For added protection, the nanographene in JetSplash’s Jet Gloss ceramic provides a long-lasting, hydrophobic barrier that repels water, dirt and salt. These coatings maintain their protective layer through various winter conditions, ensuring that a vehicle’s exterior stays shielded.

Keeping a car protected in winter doesn’t have to be costly. Just follow these easy, effective tips:

• Regularly wash the vehicle, especially after snowfalls, to remove salt and road debris.
• Apply a coat of wax. Consider JetSplash’s ceramic coating with nanographene for long-lasting protection.
• Use rubber floor mats to guard against snow and ice inside the car.
• Check wipers and top off washer fluid to ensure visibility.

JetSplash’s commitment extends beyond a clean car, proudly employing over 200 Lincoln residents, with a passion for giving back to the community. JetSplash’s dedication to speed, sustainability and customer satisfaction ensures every customer experience is a positive experience during every season of the year, not just winter!

With a similar commitment to travel-worthy exteriors, Midtown Body & Paint (midtownbodypaintne.com) is a Lincoln collision-repair expert, ready to handle any obstacles this winter might throw its customers’ way. Midtown Body & Paint specializes in collision repair, framework, and painting and its technicians take pride in their work, always providing high-quality repairs and services to develop lasting relationships with their clients.

Midtown Body & Paint’s technicians are trained I-CAR Gold Class experts who ensure every vehicle is repaired safely, thoroughly and cost-effectively. No matter how complex or diverse the vehicle is, Midtown Body & Paint can serve even the most unique client needs, covering everything from collision, dent, glass, headlight and frame repair to comprehensive painting services and insurance claim assistance.

Midtown’s six-step repair process is straightforward, thorough and backed by friendly experts and looks like the following:

• Step one is to get an in-person estimate at Midtown, which usually takes only 15 minutes or so.
• Step two is to provide the insurance that will authorize the repairs, so Midtown can schedule them as soon as possible.
• Step three is where Midtown gains insurance approval, which is followed by scheduling.
• In step four, Midtown’s I-CAR Gold Class experts thoroughly disassemble and repair the vehicle, so it looks and drives like new.
• For step five, Midtown applies its high-quality, environmentally-friendly PPG automotive paint and reassembles the vehicle.
• Step six wraps it all up and includes a final inspection, wash and detail!

Winter driving can be intimidating, but Lincolnites can be assured that Midtown Body & Paint is more than just an auto body shop. Midtown Body & Paint helps its clients from start to finish.

“Our CRT’s are trained I-CAR Gold Class experts that ensure your vehicle is repaired safely, thoroughly, and cost-effectively this winter season, no matter how complex or diverse the vehicle design,” says Owner Dan Pape.

Navigating winter driving can be intimidating, but in Lincoln, a community of professionals stands ready to assist anyone in any condition.