How to Drive in Winter Conditions
Tips to keep you safe while driving in snow
Punxsutawney Phil says we have six more weeks of winter, so I threw this list together. Thanks for the heads-up, Phil!
Most of us have driven in hazardous conditions at some point, on icy roads, in snow, and freezing rain, and we all know how hard it is to negotiate, especially when ill prepared. According to research by the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety, bad winter weather is a factor in nearly half a million crashes and more than 2,000 road deaths each year. When there’s severe weather, the best advice is to stay at home. But if you must drive somewhere, here are some precautions you can take to make sure you arrive at your destination in one piece.
1. Be Smart, Be Prepared
Before venturing out in winter it’s a good idea to stock your car up with some essential gear and supplies. Pack a bag with extra warm clothes (including socks) and toss a pair of walking boots and blankets in your trunk. Also have a scraper, a small shovel, a flashlight with extra batteries, a portable phone charger, some non-perishable food and bottled water. Before driving any kind of distance, make sure your tires are properly inflated and that you have at least a half tank of gas. And remember when you get in your vehicle, never warm up the car in an enclosed space like a garage.
2. Safe Driving Tips
And as for driving in snow, here are some quick tips to keep safe this season:
Slowly Does It!
Slow down! You may have an AWD vehicle, but you still need to drive slowly as you need to account for less traction when driving in hazardous conditions. Furthermore, do not use cruise control in the slippery conditions caused by ice and snow.
To avoid skidding accelerate and decelerate slowly. It takes longer to stop on snow and ice so keep this in mind when approaching a stoplight or traffic lights.
Stay Back!
Never tailgate in ice and snow. This is when you can break the two-second rule and increase it to five or six. Keep a healthy distance between yourself and the vehicle ahead. This will give you ample space if you need to suddenly brake.
And speaking of brakes, get to know yours well! Don’t rely on your antilock brakes too much as they don’t work well in ice and snow, just slow down gradually.
Never slam on your brakes!
If you feel your car getting out of control, try not to panic and slam on the brakes. If you hit the brakes hard you risk going into a worse skid. Instead, gradually let off the accelerator and this should help you regain control.
3. Please don’t go!
If you do get stranded in the snow, never try to walk for help and leave your vehicle, especially in a low-visibility storm. You could get lost and suffer from exposure. Stay with the car as it offers shelter and it’s easier for rescuers to find you.
4. Get Yourself Seen
Tie a colorful scarf (if you have one) to the antenna and keep the dome light on at night as it only uses a limited amount of power.
5. Clear the exhaust pipe
Clear the exhaust pipe of snow and ice to ensure it’s not clogged so you can safely be in your car when the engine is running and avoid carbon monoxide poisoning.
6. Stay Warm
Here’s why you packed extra warm clothes and blankets! Keep warm and reserve your energy until help arrives. Only run the engine and heater for short spurts just to take off the edge.
Please drive safely out there this winter!
