Pennsylvania winters can be brutal. When the bitter cold brings on ice and snow, here are some driving tips you’ll want to keep in mind:
Don’t Tailgate
Leave about 100 yards between you and the car ahead of you, or about the length of a football field. This is in case the person in front stops suddenly, giving you time to brake on slush or snow.
Turn Into a Skid
Skidding is sometimes inevitable during the winter, so when you do skid, turn the steering wheel in the direction the car is skidding. Turn the wheel gently, though. Turning into a skid will cancel it out and help you regain control of the vehicle.
Don’t Brake While Turning
Braking while you’re turning the steering wheel can cause a spinout. Instead, lightly tap the brakes before a curve and then coast with your foot hovering over the brake until you come out of a turn, then gently tap them again if you need to slow down.
Be Extra Careful on Bridges and Overpasses
Black ice is hard to spot, but it forms on bridges and overpasses. Make sure you slow down before crossing a bridge and keep plenty of room between you and other drivers.
Stay 10 MPH Under the Speed Limit
When the roads are poor from snow and ice, it’s a good idea to keep your speed at 10 miles per hour under the posted speed limit.
Exercising caution will go a long way toward staying safe this winter.
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