Driving in the winter can be intimidating and dangerous, especially in the northern states. Icy, slippery roads and poor visibility can increase your risk of getting into an accident. As such, it’s important that you exercise extra caution. Here are several tips that can help you stay safe on the road this winter.
Practice Winter Driving
Practicing winter driving is especially necessary if you have little or no experience driving in cold weather conditions. Find an empty lot and slowly practice different maneuvers on ice and snow, such as accelerating, braking, and steering into a skid. Find out how your brakes work on an icy surface and take note of your car’s stopping distances at different speeds.
Prevent Accidents
Driving slowly is the best way to prevent accidents in winter weather. Accelerate and brake slowly to improve traction and avoid skidding. Always practice threshold braking when stopping. Place your heel on the floor and apply steady, firm pressure on the brake pedal with the ball of your foot. Also, avoid using the parking brake during winter whenever possible. When you‘re following another car, you should try to stay eight to 10 seconds behind it. Since visibility can be very poor when it snows, you need to stay alert always. Keep an eye on other vehicles and pedestrians around you.
Safe winter driving begins with the condition of your car. Make sure it’s properly winterized before you hit the road.
Image via Flickr by JeepersMedia
Connect with us
