One of the toughest parts about winter
weather is travel. Winter driving conditions can be both scary and
dangerous for drivers. According to the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety winter
weather conditions result in over 2,000 road deaths each year.
Because of this we recommend avoiding travel in winter
weather conditions whenever possible.
If you must drive, there are several tips that you can
follow to improve your winter
weather driving game:
Avoid Using Cruise Control
Cruise control is a feature that should only be used on dry
highways in the daytime. A person driving in snow and ice-covered
roads should have the ability to slow down and account for lower traction.
Decrease Your Driving Speed
The ability to stop or slow your
vehicle on slippery winter roads is significantly decreased. For this reason,
you should drive significantly slower in the winter weather.
Brake Steadily
Slamming on your
brakes in winter weather is something you want to avoid doing. When you
know a stop is ahead break slowly and earlier than you normally would.
Be Confident in Your Vehicle
Prepare
your vehicle by having it tuned up by a professional, swapping your
vehicle’s fluids for winter grade fluids, swapping your tires for snow
tires, and changing your wipers for winter wipers are all helpful steps to
take. You should also make sure your
vehicle’s battery is tested as power drops as the temperatures do.
Keep Your Gas Tank Full
Your vehicle’s gas lines are at risk of freezing in the
wintertime. Keeping your vehicle’s gas
tank at least half full is a great preventative measure to take.
Increase Your Following Distance
You should plan to double your following distance from
4 or 5 seconds to 8 or 10 seconds. This will allow you more time to stop if
the vehicle in front of you stops or slides.
Avoid Stopping
You’ll be less likely to get stuck if your vehicle is in a
slow moving, controlled roll.
Stay Consistent on Hills
It’s a good idea to “get a running
start” when driving up a hill but when driving down you’ll want to drive slowly
to help you maintain control.
Avoid Distractions at All Costs
Driving in general requires your full attention. Driving in
the winter requires even more focus. There are several steps you can take to avoid
distracted driving before even leaving your house. Pre-load your commute
playlist, organize your car, and eat breakfast before you leave to keep your
focus on the road.
Plan Your Route and Notify Someone
Check the weather before leaving to see what the conditions
might be like on your commute. You should also put your driving route in
writing and notify someone close to you of when you plan to arrive. Have your
cellphone on and fully charged in case of emergency.
Keep Additional Warm Clothes in Your Vehicle.
During an emergency or accident, you might be exposed to freezing temperatures and high winds for an extended period of time. Having an extra set of warm clothing will be especially helpful in that type of scenario!
In the end, driving in the winter is about driving
especially cautious. Even when roads look good and clear they might be covered
in black ice. Being prepared and smart about your driving decisions can go a
long way!
