Maximizing Your Safety When Driving Conditions Become Hazardous
Whether you’ve lived in the north most or all of your life or you’re a recent transplant from a warmer climate, it’s always a good idea to revisit the most effective strategies for safely navigating snowy or icy roads. While there are fewer motor vehicle accidents in the winter than in the summer across the United States, a greater percentage of the winter crashes are weather-related. Here are some tips for minimizing the risk of being in a snow or ice-related wreck this year.
Prepare Before You Get on the Road
A significant number of winter car crashes could have been prevented if drivers did a few things before they got behind the wheel:
- Make certain your vehicle is free of snow and that your windows are all defrosted—Warm the car up for a minimum of ten minutes before you pull out of the driveway. When you first start the car, put your heating and cooling on defrost, so that your windows are clean. While the car is warming up, brush all the snow off, including from the hood, grill and roof of the car (that snow can drift and obscure your view).
- Make certain your car has been properly winterized—Will your tires give you good traction in snowy or slippery conditions? Do they have enough air pressure? Is there plenty of windshield washer fluid? Have you had your brakes checked recently?
Tactics for Keeping Safe While Driving
Following a few basic rules will dramatically reduce the risk of a collision:
- Reduce your speed—The posted speed limits assume fair weather. When there’s snow or ice on the ground, you should reduce your speed by at least 10%, as you’ll typically need more distance to slow down or come to a complete stop. In addition, too much speed in a turn can quickly cause you to lose control.
- Give yourself more room—You should probably double or triple the amount of space between you and the driver in front of you.
- Respect the conditions—Too often, drivers get aggressive in winter weather, stepping on the accelerator when the wheels start to spin or slamming on the brakes. Gently tapping on the gas will often be all you need to get purchase on slippery roads and pumping your brakes is a far more effective way to avoid a rear-end collision.
- Leave the cruise control off—Your cruise control may react in challenging ways to a loss of traction. You’re better off manually adjusting to road conditions.
