{"id":4336,"date":"2022-04-22T11:50:24","date_gmt":"2022-04-22T18:50:24","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/vernfonk.confiedevstg.com\/blog\/?p=4336"},"modified":"2022-04-22T11:50:27","modified_gmt":"2022-04-22T18:50:27","slug":"spring-driving-tips","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/vernfonk.confiedevstg.com\/blog\/tips\/spring-driving-tips\/","title":{"rendered":"6 Spring Safe Driving Tips for Washington State Motorists"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

You didn\u2019t think it would ever happen, but it did. Winter disappeared \u2014 for the most part, anyway. More on that later. What\u2019s important to remember is that the new season still has its driving challenges. That\u2019s why the following spring safe driving tips, plus the right car insurance<\/a>, could protect your safety and that of loved ones.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1. Remember, Calendars Sometimes Lie<\/a><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

You so want it to be spring. We all do. So, when we get several days in a row that feel balmy and smell of hyacinths, we can easily convince ourselves that the endless winter is over. And the calendar agrees with us. But the truth is that winter is fickle, especially here in Washington State.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Even when the ice is gone and snow is a distant memory, the harshest season can make a brief comeback. That\u2019s why it\u2019s important not to forget your winter driving tips<\/u><\/a> altogether. Keep an eye on the local forecast and caution younger family members to drive cautiously if it looks like a late-season snowstorm or ice buildup is possible.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

2. Dodge the Potholes<\/a><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Winters in Washington State are immediately followed by pothole season<\/u><\/a>. You won\u2019t find a hint of that on the calendar, but the evidence is everywhere on the roads. There are about 40 different causes of pothole damage, with such colorful names as pop-out, de-cracking, frost heaving, and slab breaks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The most common pothole damage occurs as the result of road surfaces expanding during the cold months. Water gets into cracks; freezes and expands; and eventually \u201cpops out\u201d a section of pavement.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Potholes can mean big trouble for your tires and suspension system. The rough ride can also cause accidents. So, take it slow and easy on pavement that\u2019s in less-than-ideal condition this spring and beyond.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

3. Share the Road<\/a><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Winter can be a lonely season, especially on the roads. You share your drive with very few hardy pedestrians or bicyclists, but all that changes when the weather does. That first 60-degree day brings people out from indoors. You\u2019ve suddenly got walkers, skaters, bikers, and scooter pilots, all claiming a piece of the road you\u2019re navigating.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

After months without seeing much sign of humanity on those roads, your instincts might have dulled to the threat. Don\u2019t let the sudden congestion catch you by surprise. Your safest bet is to simply assume that the streets will be clogged when those mild spring days first make an appearance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Young<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

4. Get Reacquainted With Rain<\/a><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Yes, you know all about driving in the rain<\/u><\/a>. You live in Washington State, after all. But maybe you\u2019ve forgotten after several months of the fluffier stuff. Rain causes different visibility challenges than snow. And it can be as slick under your tires as ice if you\u2019re not careful.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Make sure you\u2019re ready for the season with a good set of windshield wiper pads and ensure your brakes and tires can take any wet and slick challenge.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

5. Watch Out for Standing Water<\/a><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

What happens to snow after days and weeks of temperatures above freezing? Right\u2026it melts. It turns to a lot<\/em> of water. And you have no idea where that water will gather until you happen to drive through it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you\u2019re driving in mountainous regions of the state, take flash flood alerts seriously. The same applies if you\u2019re driving along a large body of water. Sometimes it\u2019s simply a long rainy season and backed-up storm drains making roads unsafe.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Always be on the lookout for sudden spring flooding. You don\u2019t want to get caught in a hydroplaning event, where you lose total or partial control of your steering and braking. Very little can be more dangerous than hydroplaning at 65 miles an hour.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

6. Reexamine Your Washington Car Insurance Policy<\/a><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Are you getting the most out of your coverage? Just like spring often triggers an in-depth cleaning of your home, it might also provide a good time to strike up a chat with your insurance agent and see if your Washington car insurance<\/a> is doing all that it should.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For instance, some insurance companies offer discounts<\/u><\/a> for seasonal tune-ups or the installation of special safety features. Does yours? Or, if not, should you switch to a plan that does? It never hurts to ask.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Contact Vern Fonk Insurance<\/a> for Affordable Car Insurance Today<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Your Vern Fonk independent insurance agent can answer all your questions and make sure you have the most affordable Washington car insurance policy for your needs. Simply call us at (800) 455-8276<\/a>. You can also visit an agent at your nearby Vern Fonk Insurance<\/u><\/a> location or get a fast and free car insurance quote online<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

You didn\u2019t think it would ever happen, but it did. Winter disappeared \u2014 for the most part, anyway. More on that later. What\u2019s important to remember is that the new season still has its driving challenges. That\u2019s why the following spring safe driving tips, plus the right car insurance, could protect your safety and that […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":15,"featured_media":4337,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"inline_featured_image":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[31,25],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-4336","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-car-insurance","category-tips"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/vernfonk.confiedevstg.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4336","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/vernfonk.confiedevstg.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/vernfonk.confiedevstg.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vernfonk.confiedevstg.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/15"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vernfonk.confiedevstg.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=4336"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/vernfonk.confiedevstg.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4336\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":4341,"href":"https:\/\/vernfonk.confiedevstg.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4336\/revisions\/4341"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vernfonk.confiedevstg.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/4337"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/vernfonk.confiedevstg.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=4336"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vernfonk.confiedevstg.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=4336"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vernfonk.confiedevstg.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=4336"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}