Winter Driving Tips from a Car Accident Attorney
Written by Cooper & Friedman PLLC on February 10, 2016
With the temperatures dropping, and an increased likelihood of snow, comes hazardous driving conditions. Snow, ice and sleet on the roads reduce friction making safe driving more difficult and winter driving tips more important.
According to the U.S. Department of Transportation, Federal Highway Administration, every year nearly one out of four vehicle crashes categorized as “weather related” happen on snow, ice or slush. And in the U.S. more than 75,000 people a year are injured in car accidents during snow or sleet.
12 Winter Driving Tips to Help Keep You Safe
For those unable to avoid hitting slippery winter streets, there are some precautions and winter driving tips you should follow to travel safely.
- Stay Home if Possible: When the roads get dangerous, always try and avoid getting out there. If you have to leave the house, make sure that you are prepared for these conditions.
- Eliminate Distractions and Remain Alert: Make sure that you are fully rested and capable of remaining awake before getting behind the wheel. You should always be alert when driving, but this is especially important when traveling through icy roadways.
- Be Prepared: Make sure that your car is fully stocked with an ice scraper, a blanket and flashlight. If you are going on a longer trip, packing water and snacks may be a good idea.
- Dress Appropriately: Wear or bring along cold-weather clothing that will keep you warm. In the event that you do experience car trouble or traffic issues, you want to make sure you have the right gear to remain comfortable.
- Clear Off Snow, Ice and Frost: Make sure you have completely defrosted your front and back windshields, while also clearing the snow from your side-view mirrors. This will help improve visibility. If it continues to snow while you’re on the road, make sure to use your windshield wipers.
- Reduce Your Speed: Just because your car may be equipped to function in these dangerous conditions, it doesn’t mean you should follow the same speed limit requirements. Always travel at a slower pace to avoid getting into a wreck.
- Check Tire Pressure: Always make sure your tires are properly inflated.
- Use Extra Caution During Acceleration and Deceleration: Make sure to avoid slamming on the brakes or accelerating too quickly. This sudden movement could cause your car to slide, spin or collide with another car on the roadways.
- Don’t Power up or Stop on Hills: Try and avoid accelerating or pausing on hills. This increase in movement could potentially cause your car to stall on this incline.
- Always Wear a Seatbelt: You should always wear your seatbelt regardless of the weather, however these dangerous weather conditions make seatbelt safety a top priority.
- Keep Your Gas Tank Half-Full: Keeping an appropriate level of gas in your tank will keep your gas tank from freezing. Also, if you happen to get stuck on the side of the road, you will need this gas to keep your car running to supply heat.
- Allow More Space Between Cars: Normally, you would keep some distance between your vehicle and the car in front of you. With dangerous weather conditions, you will want to keep more of a distance between you and this car. This will help you avoid an accident.
You should always plan ahead and practice these safe winter driving tips, but they become more important in the event of hazardous road conditions. Remain alert and prepared this winter and you can reduce your chance of collisions and accidents on the roadways. And in the event that you are in some type of car accident, keep in mind that Cooper and Friedman Attorneys at Law can help. For a free consult with a car accident attorney, call 502-459-7555 now.