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Snow-covered hills, crisp air and black ice. One of these things is not like the others. Winter is a beautiful season, but it can be challenging for drivers no matter where they are in the U.S. Icy roads, reduced visibility and bad weather conditions can turn even a short commute into a treacherous journey. To navigate this winter wonderland safely, it's essential to make sure that both you and your vehicle are well-prepared. We’ve compiled some of our best winter driving tips to help you prepare for the season and keep your winter more hot cocoa and less hospital.
Preparing your vehicle for winter is a matter of safety. A well-prepared vehicle can help you avoid accidents, breakdowns and stress in treacherous winter road conditions. But what does it mean to prepare your vehicle for winter?
One of the first steps in preparing your vehicle for winter is getting a winter tune-up from a qualified mechanic. This tune-up should include at least the following checks.
Proper tire maintenance will keep your car on the road through the ice. Here’s what you need to consider.
No one expects a breakdown, but it's wise to be prepared. Create an emergency kit to keep in your car in case you are stuck on the side of the road. We suggest the following items, but consider your own needs and add to the list accordingly.
While preparing your vehicle for winter is a solid step toward winter safety, your driving habits play a significant role in keeping you safe during the winter season. Winter weather conditions can be unpredictable, but adopting the right practices to navigate snow-covered roads can help you avoid accidents. We’ve compiled these practical tips to keep you and your passengers safe.
Slowing down and leaving extra space are fundamental principles of safe winter driving. The reduced traction caused by snow and ice makes it harder for your vehicle to grip the road; driving at a slower speed allows for better control. More than that, a lower speed means a higher reaction time, giving you time to better respond to unforeseen situations on the road. Another way to get more time to react is leaving extra space between your vehicle and the one ahead of you. The more space you have in front of you, the more time you have to apply the brakes gently, and the lower the chances of collisions.
Exercise a gentle and progressive approach to prevent wheel lock-up when braking on ice and snow. For vehicles equipped with antilock brakes (ABS), maintain firm pressure on the brake pedal, as the system automatically adjusts brake pressure to avert skidding. Similarly, during acceleration, particularly when starting from a standstill or attempting to gain momentum, adopt a gradual approach to avoid wheel spin. A light touch on the gas pedal will help maintain traction and mean a smoother and more controlled driving experience on icy surfaces.
Bridges and overpasses tend to freeze earlier than other parts of the road. Be cautious when driving over or under these structures. That means reducing your speed and exercising extra caution as you approach to account for potential icy hazards. While on these surfaces, avoiding abrupt changes in speed or direction, which could result in a loss of control over your vehicle. At all stages of driving around bridges and overpasses, stay alert. Patches of ice, including black ice, may be present on elevated roadways.
Sometimes a skid is inevitable. Knowing how to handle them will keep you safe. Most importantly, stay calm. Panicking and actions like slamming on the brakes or excessive steering corrections will make the situation worse. Instead, and somewhat counterintuitively, steer into the skid. This aids in regaining control of your vehicle. Simultaneously, remove your foot from the gas pedal to decrease speed and reestablish traction. If needed, apply the brakes – gently – to slow down once control has been regained.
Knowing how to navigate common winter driving hazards is essential for staying safe on the road. In this section, we'll discuss strategies for dealing with some of the most prevalent winter driving hazards, including black ice, snow drifts and whiteouts.
One of the most dangerous winter driving hazards is black ice – a nearly invisible, thin layer of ice on road surfaces, which is extremely difficult to detect. If you encounter black ice on the road, you should:
Snow drifts can be a significant obstacle during winter driving, potentially causing your vehicle to get stuck. Here's how to deal with them:
Whiteouts occur when heavy snowfall or fog reduces visibility to near-zero levels, making driving extremely hazardous. Avoid driving in these conditions if possible, but if you are on the road when you encounter a whiteout, try these winter driving tips:
No matter how many precautions you take or safe driving practices you follow, winter driving mishaps can still occur. So what do you do when the unthinkable happens?
Getting stuck in the snow is a common winter driving mishap, especially in heavy snowfall or when driving on unplowed roads. Here's how to handle this situation:
Sliding off the road, especially on icy or slippery surfaces, can be scary. If it happens to you, try these steps:
Winter driving offers both beauty and challenges. Following the driving tips for winter weather outlined in this post will enable you to appreciate the season's beauty while prioritizing road safety and reaching your destination without incident. There’s never a surefire way to avoid incident though. No matter how careful you are, accidents happen and you can’t control the weather or other drivers. Take a moment before winter to talk to the VIU by HUB Advisory Team to make sure that you’ve got the right coverage, just in case.
The VIU Point is here to help you make sense of it all, so you can confidently compare auto insurance quotes and make the best policy decisions.
