Winter driving can be one of the most challenging and difficult tasks you’re faced with; your safety on the road is extremely important.
During the winter months, cold temperatures, possible freezing, and precipitation can lead to unpredictable situations when you’re out on the road. You want to make sure your vehicle is ready for the winter months, you want to have items with you in case of an emergency, and you need to be prepared for the possibility of other drivers acting in ways that will cause crashes and lead to delays.
Let’s look at eight tips that will help you stay safe during winter driving:
1. Make Sure Your Car is Prepared for Winter
Prior to the winter months beginning, one way to ensure your safety during winter driving is to perform the necessary maintenance that will serve you through the cold months. If you live in an area where freezing temperatures are a regularity, you want to perform some extra steps to ensure your car will work for you during the next few months. Some things you should do are:
- Test your battery power to make sure it hasn’t dropped
- Check the cooling system
- Put winter tires on your car, especially if you live in an area that is prone to snowfall
- Check the tire pressure of your tires
- Replace your wiper blades
- Add wiper fluid rated for -30 degrees
- Keep your gas tank at least half full during the winter months
2. Decrease Your Speed While Driving
Even if all you’re faced with is low temperatures, there’s nothing to stop those temps from having frozen moisture on the road, causing a slick surface. You want to slow down when the temperature drops and put more distance between yourself and other vehicles. Lowering your speed accounts for the challenges you may face during your drive.
3. Prepare for a Potential Emergency
You might not be in a crash, but other drivers could be. The time you spend stuck in traffic because of foul weather in the winter is much longer than at any other time of the year. You need to be prepared for winter driving challenges with a safety package of cold-weather gear, extra food, extra water, warm clothing, a flashlight, and blankets. These items could save your life or the lives of others that are faced with cold-weather-related emergencies.
4. Clean Items for the best Visibility
You need to have clean and clear windows so that you can see everything you want to see during your drive. It’s also a good idea to clean your headlights and wipers regularly to ensure you can see them at night or when it begins to snow. Visibility in winter weather is always a challenge, and you want to make sure you have the clearest view of everything going on around you. Spend some time each week checking these items to ensure you have the best chance of seeing everything around you when you’re out on the road.
5. Brake and Accelerate Lightly in Bad Weather
During your drive, if you’re faced with snow, sleet, or freezing rain, you should brake and accelerate gently to maintain control during your drive. This is one of the most important winter driving tips to ensure your safety is as high as it can be. When slowing, lightly pump your brakes to help avoid your tires spinning out of control. The best rule of thumb for this tip is to do everything gently and nothing forcefully when you’re out in bad weather.
6. Employ the Smart Ways to Avoid a Crash
When you’re out on the roads in the winter, you want to avoid using cruise control, it’s important to keep control of your vehicle. If you begin to skid, steer in the direction of the skid until your wheels regain traction. Increase your follow distance to 8 to 10 seconds, and try not to stop when going uphill. These items will help you avoid a crash when you’re out on the roads in the winter. While they don’t guarantee that other drivers will avoid you, they can help you stay safe.
7. Minimize Distractions While Driving
There are always some distractions when you’re driving, but when you’re in bad winter weather, you need to reduce the distractions to as few as possible. You need to avoid eating, drinking, or being on phone calls when you’re behind the wheel. These are smart practices during any driving time, not just winter driving, but they can help to ensure your safety on the road. When you reduce your distractions, you become a more attentive driver and will stay alert during your time behind the wheel.
8. Avoid Parts of the Road You Can’t Predict
The puddles you drive through during a summer rainstorm could be nothing but trouble in the winter. You want to avoid water, ice, snow, and other challenges on the road when you’re driving around in the winter. If you drive on black ice, you could skid off the road and lose all control of your vehicle. Deep puddles can cause serious engine damage and make it hard for you to continue your drive. You want to stick to parts of the road that you can see and predict. This means avoiding anything that looks strange or unusual.
Bonus: Stay Home Whenever Possible
If you’re used to running to the store every day after work, or you feel the urge to go out regularly, try not to do this when the weather has turned bad. To ensure your comfort when you do get stuck at home, you’ll need to stock your refrigerator and pantry and have a few things you do to pass the time. If you can avoid going out in the snow, sleet, or freezing rain, you’re going to ensure your safety and avoid the challenges of winter driving. Stay safe this winter; it’s more important to arrive late than to not arrive at all.
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