Guide to Safe Driving in Snow and Ice

Whether you’re encountering drivers who are overconfident or simply inexperienced, winter driving can be hazardous. Many crashes happen when driving too fast for the conditions or even sliding on ice that is hard to see, even when the roads or highways look clear.?

In the event that you need to drive in similar road conditions, we’ve compiled this guide to driving safely in winter weather.

Guide to Safe Driving in Winter

Slow down, and don’t follow too close.

It is necessary to give yourself plenty of room to stop. Leave at least three times as much space as usual between you and the car in front of you. You may think you can stop quickly, but no matter how fast your own reflexes may be, your car will always slide on ice. I’ve seen fully loaded semi-trucks sliding on icy roads.

Brake gently to avoid skidding.

If your wheels feel like they’re starting to lock up, ease off of the brake. This is another reason why it’s important to leave lots of room between you and the car in front of you. If you start skidding, and you left enough room, you may be able to stop in time.

Turn on your car’s lights.

Even in the daytime. This is also a good idea on clear days during the summer. It increases your visibility to other drivers.

Keep your lights and windshield clean.

If your car is covered in snow, be sure to clear the snow off from your headlights, tail lights, all windows, and the top of the car. This will make driving safer for other cars on the road. Snow blowing off of the tops of trucks and other cars has landed squarely on my windshield on more than one occasion. That could have been avoided if the driver had taken the time to remove the snow.

Be especially careful on bridges, overpasses, and infrequently traveled roads.

They freeze first, even at temperatures above freezing, because of cold winds and airflow around bridges.

Don’t pass snow plows or sanding trucks.

They don’t have good visibility, and you’ll likely find the roads clearer behind them. Let them do their jobs, and the roads will be safer for everyone.

Don’t assume your vehicle can handle all conditions.

This has to be one of my biggest pet peeves in winter. Watching trucks and SUVs zip past as if the roads are as clear as a bright sunny summer day. Vehicles with four-wheel drive can give drivers a false sense of safety because they typically perform better in snowy and icy driving conditions. Four-wheel drive sends a specific amount of needed torque to each of the vehicle’s four tires to give added traction to move forward through snowy roads. That doesn’t mean that a vehicle with four-wheel or all-wheel drive can race down the road at top speed in the snow. Four-wheel or all-wheel drive will not give you the traction you need to brake.

Leave earlier than you normally would.

Give yourself some extra time to get to your destination. You won’t feel pressure to drive any faster than you should, putting yourself and other drivers’ lives at risk. You’ll, instead, be confident that you’ll arrive at your destination on time (or close enough).

Don’t put undue pressure on other drivers.

Driving too closely, stopping too closely behind other cars, or honking at cars that are waiting to turn puts undue pressure onto other people.

Driving too closely can cause many problems. Should the car ahead of you need to brake, you may not be able to slow down in time. If they suddenly hit a snow patch, their car may slow quickly without warning.

At stop signs, corners, etc., attempting to stop as close to the car in front of you as possible can prove dangerous. If you start sliding on the ice, there’s no way to avoid a crash, and it’s your fault.

If someone seems to be taking too long to turn a corner, don’t honk at them. You’re not in their position, and you don’t know the conditions. Even if you think you do, you’re putting their safety at risk by trying to make them go just so that you can get moving a little bit faster. Conditions are bad enough, take the time to be more understanding.

How fast should you be going?

Let’s put it like this: if you’re passing a lot of cars, you’re driving too fast. If you’re being passed by a lot of cars, you’re driving too slow. If you’re getting too uncomfortable, perhaps it’s best not to be on the road.

Keep reading for more key winter driving tips >>> bit.ly/3ueZToQ