How to Prepare for Winter Driving and Stay Safe on the Roads

Winter is arriving quickly this year! Road have already been covered in snow or ice from overnight temperatures that drop below freezing. It’s always good to review good habits for winter driving to keep you and your family safe on the roads this winter.

Dress for the Weather

When the temperature drops, it can be dangerous to stay outside too long. Whether you’re just running to the shop or you’re on a road trip, always dress for the possibility that you’ll run out of gas and have to walk to get a refill.

Take Time to Warm Up

You’re not the only one suffering in cold temperatures! Take care of your car and always let it run for a few minutes to warm up before you drive.

Update your Emergency Kit

Freshen up your regulars, like spare clothes, your first aid kit, water bottles, and non-perishable foods.

Add winter specifics like a warm blanket, an ice scraper, salt, cat litter, and a shovel.

Leave more Space

Keep an eye out for ice on the road, especially on bridges and wide-open spaces. Black ice doesn’t discriminate and is especially dangerous when you’re changing speed or direction, whether there’s a bend in the road or you’re braking at a light.

Always leave more space between you and the cars around you when icy roads are a possibility!

Check your Braking

During the winter when roads can be slick, it’s important to brake correctly.

Most new cars (those less than 20 years old) have ABS brakes that are designed for slick roads. If your car has ABS braking, don’t pump the brakes on ice – your car will do it for you.

If you don’t have ABS brakes, don’t slam on the brakes – instead make sure to pump them!

Top up Your Fluids

Low temperatures keep everything in your car much more dense than usual, which makes levels of everything, from fuel to antifreeze, a little lower.

To keep your lines from freezing and your levels correct, keep your gas at least ¼ full. Check your antifreeze and don’t fill it with water, which does freeze at 32F.

Keep an Eye on your Tires

Liquids aren’t the only thing that gets denser at lower temperatures. Check your tire pressure especially when the temperature drops and watch out for flat tires.

Tips for Preventing a Collision in the Winter

Remember that in winter weather, safe driving and collision prevention takes a little extra extra effort. It takes the right combination of maintenance and safe driving to avoid accidents in the winter. This is our list of dos and don’ts for safe winter driving.

Don’t Multitask, Just Drive

When you’re driving in bad weather, visibility is low, and the temperatures are cold, it’s especially important to focus on driving! Don’t drive after drinking, using your phone, or looking for directions. Slick roads require drivers to focus on driving and on the other cars on the road.

Do Stay on top of Maintenance

While it’s always important to make sure your car is well maintained and functioning safely, it can be especially important in the winter. Road conditions and visibility can make winter driving a little more dangerous than at other times, and smaller car issues can cause bigger problems while you’re driving and you need to rely on your vehicle.

● Maintain your tire pressure,
● Keep fluids like oil and windshield wiper fluid filled,
● Don’t let your gas tank get below ¼ of a tank – fuel can freeze in the lines,
● Keep oil filters changed regularly,
● Make sure you’re not low on oil, and
● Check coolant – if it’s not full and the system isn’t clear, it can cause your heat to stop working.

Don’t Drive if the Weather is Bad

You have your car to get you from one place to the next. But, if the weather is bad enough, driving isn’t safe. Learn to recognize when the weather isn’t safe to drive in, and when it’s a better idea to put off your journey until it clears! Ask yourself these questions.

● Do you know what your car is capable of?
● Have you driven in winter weather before? How experienced are you?
● What time of day is it? Accidents are more common after dark and late at night.
● How tired are you?
● How well maintained is your vehicle?
● How well maintained are the roads to your destination?
● Is it possible to put off your journey?

Do Follow the Speed Limit

Speed limits are not just guidelines – they’re put in place for your safety. But, speed limits are designed for safe driving under ideal conditions. In bad winter weather, it’s not safe to drive over the speed limit, even if you think your car can handle it. It’s generally safest to drive under the speed limit and stay to the right unless you’re passing.

Don’t Ignore Your Tires

Your tires are one of the most important parts of your car – don’t neglect them! In the winter, it’s important to check tire tread and tire pressure, and consider using winter tires.

How to Stay Safe After a Winter Weather Car Accident

If you’re in an accident, there are always certain steps you should take to maintain your safety, the safety of others involved, and the safety of other cars that may be approaching the area. But, in the winter, there are several factors that can require a change in the procedure.

● Winter daylight hours are shorter, weather is cloudier and precipitation is likely to impair visibility, so it’s important to make sure that you can be seen.

● Snow, ice, and other messy road conditions can make it hard for cars to stop when they do see you, so it’s important to leave extra space.

Whether you’re waiting for help after an accident or you’re just trying to make sure everyone is okay and clear the road, it’s important to keep the following in mind during a winter car accident.

Stay Calm

No matter when you’re in an accident, it’s important to stay calm. The accident has already happened, and yelling at others isn’t going to change that, and in the winter, it’s extra important to keep safety in mind after an accident.

● It might not be safe to get out of your vehicle, so first, check your surroundings
● Turn on your hazards
● Check yourself for injuries, then check your passengers, and if possible, the passengers of other vehicles

Depending on the severity of the accident, you may be in shock and unaware of your own injuries or your surroundings. Call the authorities, even if you aren’t sure it’s necessary.

Stay Out of the Road

Pay attention to your surroundings. If and when it is safe for you to get out of your vehicle, pay attention. If possible, take photos and document the accident, and stay out of the road. If you can, move your vehicle off the road so that traffic can safely continue past you. Any obstacle in the road, even an accident, has the potential to cause accidents, especially when the roads are slippery and sight is limited.

If you can’t move your vehicle and you can’t get off the road, stay in your vehicle rather than next to it.

Be Seen

If you have them, put up flares, lights, reflectors, or brightly colored cloth to make yourself and your vehicle more visible. Make sure that if you’re around a curve, you place warning lights far enough back that cars can see them as they approach and not just as they hit the curve. Use your hazard lights!

Stay Warm

If you have an emergency kit in your car, now is the time to use it. Stay warm, use your extra blankets and clothes, and stay in the vehicle if possible. If you need to run the engine, make sure your tailpipe isn’t clogged with dirt or snow – it could be after the accident.