Focus on winter driving safety!

We’ve dealt with plenty of cold weather topics on the blog, from ergonomic practices in snow shoveling to winter sports, but one important topic we haven’t dealt with is winter driving. But if recent snowstorms have taught us anything, it’s that this topic is as important as any this season! For further proof, just look at the recent mess in Atlanta and much of the Southeast after a rare-but-expected snowstorm paralyzed the region. As you can see, a little winter preparedness goes a long, long way! With that mind, let’s take a look at some simple ways to ensure a safe season and still get where you’re going.

The first step in winter safety is to simply be prepared. For instance, you should make sure that your vehicle is properly winterized. Before even attempting to drive in wintry conditions, get your car checked out to make sure it’s in tip-top shape. This includes checking the ignition, battery, brakes, wiring, hoses and fan belts. Also be sure to keep a road safety “survival kit” in your car including things like tools, a shovel and/or ice scraper, jumper cables and a flashlight. Make sure that you’ve got a means of communication like a charged cell phone, or that you can get attention on the road in case of a break-down of some kind--this can be achieved with bright-colored cloth, flares or reflective triangles.

But even the most smoothly-running car can experience problems on the road--this is as true of vehicles with All-Wheel Drive, Anti-Lock brakes, you name it! Nothing can replace basic safety awareness, especially where snow-logged or icy roads are concerned. Always drive slowly, giving yourself plenty of room to stop (it takes a vehicle about three times longer to come to a stop on wintry roads than it does normally), and always brake gently to avoid skidding. If your front or back wheels do begin to skid, take your foot off the accelerator and gently steer in the direction of the skid to maintain control. It may take a few seconds to get control back, but be careful not to oversteer, which can cause the skid to get worse. Above all, stay alert, don’t panic, and take your time getting places!

Certain road hazards like black ice (one of the winter’s worst aspects for drivers) can be difficult to avoid and harder still to predict. These and other hazards should be treated with extreme caution, and drivers should be sure not to put themselves and their car through more than it can handle. If you must drive in snow, be sure to give plows time to do their work and avoid rushing around; sometimes the safest choice is simply to stay home.

Keeping all these warnings in mind, however, should result in a safe and pleasant winter that hopefully won’t provide too much inconvenience. After all, nobody loves shoveling snow or scraping windshields, but a beautiful view of the snowy landscapes of the northeast might make it worthwhile from time to time! Get out there and enjoy yourself, but stay safe and alert!