In most states, the coldest month of the year is January. However, winter weather often begins as early as October, and can continue well into March in some areas of the country. Anyone who has ever driven in sleet, snow, rain, ice, or fog knows that it makes no difference what time of year it is, though – winter weather driving is dangerous. Statistics bear it out, too. In the United States alone, an estimated 7,130 people are killed and another 629,000 are injured in weather-related motor vehicle accidents every year.
It isn’t always possible to avoid having to drive in inclement weather, but there are a number of smart steps you can take to avoid becoming a statistic of winter auto accidents. This includes proper preparation before you head out, as well as decisions you make behind the wheel.
Road Ready
Before you hit the road, make sure your car is up to the challenge. Check your battery, cooling system, windshield wipers and reservoir, all lights (including interior), and the integrity of your brakes and tires (maintain a minimum 6/32-inch depth). If there are any safety concerns that come up, fix them before you drive. It could end up saving lives. Finally, keep your gas tank at least half full (minimizes freeze potential).
Stock Up
Regardless of the weather, you should always have a mini-travel kit stowed away in your car. The kit should include basic first aid supplies, road flares, water, high-protein snacks, a blanket, and multiple flashlights, among others. A winter weather driving kit, though, should be more substantial, containing tire chains, gravel or cat litter, a snow shovel, medications, a deicer, gloves, extra blankets, socks, and hats.
Air Conditioner
As you drive, keep the air conditioner on. It sounds counter intuitive, but when you set the A/C on high heat and choose the ‘fresh air’ option, you’ll keep the frost and condensation from building up on all of the windows, not just the windshield.
Secure the Inside
Securing the inside of your vehicle is important year-round. However, since driving in inclement weather is inherently riskier than driving during clear weather, remind everyone in the car that seat belts are not to be taken off for any reason until the car is off the road and fully stopped. If traveling with pets, keep them secure as well. Additionally, don’t keep anything loose in the car cabin that might cause injury during an accident. Secure all heavy and large items in the vehicle’s trunk.
Common Sense Driving
When you finally get on the road, maintain an increased distance between yourself and the car in front of you. Monitor your position to ensure that there is, at minimum, at least three times the normal distance between cars (8 to 10 seconds).
Slow down by 50 percent (depending on weather), don’t accelerate in turns, and use the lowest gear possible to maximize traction. Here are a few more safety tips for safe winter weather driving.
- Do not use cruise control. Always manually control your vehicle’s speed.
- Always steer and look in the direction you want to go.
- Accelerate and decelerate purposefully and slowly. Begin to slow down for stop signs and lights at least three times sooner than you normally would.
- With the exception of stop signs and lights, don’t stop if you can help it. Applying brakes always increases the risk of hydroplaning and loss of control. This is why mindfulness and slow speeds are so important. Instead of braking, you’ll have time to decelerate by just taking your foot off the gas.
- When driving up hills, don’t stop if you can help it. Try getting a little speed on a flat surface before venturing up the hill.
- If you begin to skid, take your foot off the gas and brake, and steer the car in the direction you want it to go. As the car turns, quickly but gently counter steer to guide the car’s trajectory so that it continues in the proper direction. This is the true definition of “turning into the skid.”
- If you do get stuck in the snow, stay inside your vehicle and wait for help. Use your phone immediately to call for assistance in case you’ll be there a while and the phone loses its charge.
Obviously, no one can ever be truly prepared for anything. However, with planning and a little know-how, you can significantly reduce the risk of injury or death if you must drive in bad weather.