Because winter still isn’t over in many areas of the world, it’s wise to continue to be vigilant about driving during winter weather conditions.
If you live in an area where winters get particularly snowy, you likely have some experience driving when the roads aren’t ideal. But since many people try to avoid being out on the road during a winter storm, you may not actually know how to stay safe on the road and avoid potential car accidents in extremely bad winter weather.
So to help you with this, here are three tips for driving during a winter storm.
Know How To Adjust Your Driving
Knowing how you should adjust your driving during winter storm weather is your first line of defense for staying safe when on the road during snowy conditions.
According to the National Safety Council, some good rules to follow when driving in heavy snow are to accelerate and decelerate slowly, increase your following distance to about 10 seconds between you and other cars, and never use cruise control. Additionally, if you do start to skid while you’re driving, it’s important that you understand how to steer into the skid so that you can regain traction quickly and not lose complete control of your vehicle. Not steering into a skid can also cause you to overcorrect, which can make the situation much more dangerous.
Take The Safest Route
If you know you have to be out of the road during a winter storm, the weather should play a big role in what route you’re choosing to take.
John M. Vincent, a contributor to U.S. News and World Report, shares that when driving during heavy snow of a winter storm, you should plan your route to avoid things like congested areas or places with steep hills. These areas can be especially dangerous during winter storms as snowy conditions can make it hard to see and stop as you normally would. Also, try to stay in areas that have already been plowed, salted, or sanded so that you can avoid getting stuck in deep snow or drifts.
Prepare For The Worst
While everyone is hoping to be able to make it to their destination safely when traveling during a winter storm, it’s a good idea to prepare for the worst, just in case.
To best do this, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration advises that you keep certain tools and other items in your car during the winter months. Some of the things you should be sure to keep in your vehicle include an ice scraper for your windows, sand or kitty litter to give you additional traction when needed, jumper cables, a flashlight, an extra cell phone charger, food and water, and a blanket.
If you’re going to be driving during a winter snow storm, consider using the tips mentioned above to keep yourself and others safe.
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