Winter driving can be risky, especially for those driving in snowstorms and on icy roads. The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) data shows that more than 150,000 (156,164) auto crashes occur annually due to icy roads. That underscores the need for drivers to be aware of the safety guidelines for driving in winter and handling road emergencies. The tips you will learn here will help you understand how to prepare your car for winter and drive safely.
5 Tips for Cold Weather Driving
- Always keep a minimum of half a tank of fuel in your car
- Always ensure that your tires have enough tread and are well pumped
- Make sure you have a variety of winter survival supplies in your car, including blankets, a flashlight, extra food and water, a glass scraper, prescription drugs, etc
- Never use cruise control while driving on a slippery surface
- Avoid warming up your car in a closed space. You should do so occasionally and just long enough to keep you warm
Tips for Driving in the Snow
- Try as much as possible to leave the house only when necessary. It is better to stay back, even if you can drive well in bad weather. Avoid taking unnecessary risks of going out
- If you must go out, drive slowly. Since snow and ice can cause decreased traction, you should gradually increase and reduce your speed. Avoid trying to accelerate quickly. That will help you to regain traction and prevent skids
- You should also know that slowing down on icy roads takes more time, so take enough time to slow down at stoplights
- “You should maintain about 5 seconds of distance between you and the car ahead,” says Roger K. Gelb of Gelb & Gelb, P.C. This margin of error provides you enough time if you have to stop or avoid a collision
- Understand how your brakes work. Even if your vehicle has antilock brakes, keep your foot firmly on the base while pressing down on the brake pedal
- If at all possible, avoid stopping. There is a significant difference in the amount of inertia needed to begin moving from a complete stop versus the amount it takes to start moving while still rolling. So, if you can slow down sufficiently to continue to move until a traffic light changes, try to do that
- Avoid powering up a hill. It is dangerous to speed up along an icy and sloppy road. You will only make your wheels spin if you apply extra gas on snow-covered roads. You only need to get a little inertia before you get to the hill. That inertia will carry you to the top. As you get to the crest, you will have to reduce your speed and slowly proceed downhill
How to Navigate Your Way if You Get Stuck in the Snow
- If you can’t clear yourself, remain inside your car to make it easier for rescuers to find you
- Stay visible by tying a brightly colored fabric to your car antenna to flash a distress signal. If it is dark, you should put on the dome light
- Check the exhaust pipe for obstructions like ice, snow, or mud and prevent deadly carbon monoxide gas from seeping into the car’s passenger area while the engine is running
- Keep warm by protecting your body from the cold using whatever is at hand
- Save fuel by only using the heater and engine for as long as necessary to remove the chill
