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Stay Safe While Driving in the Snow

By December 21, 2020April 27th, 2023No Comments

It’s getting cold out, which means wintery weather and slippery roads. Winter storms, bad weather and sloppy road conditions are a factor in nearly half a million crashes and more than 2,000 road deaths every winter, according to research by the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety.

Here are some tips for driving in the snow to help keep you and your family safer.

Stay Home – only go out if necessary.

Drive Slowly – especially if it’s snowy or icy.

Accelerate and Decelerate Slowly – apply gas slowly to help regain traction and avoid skids. Remember, it takes longer to slow down on icy roads.

Increase Your Following Distance – if you increase this to 5-6 seconds, it will give you more space to stop when needed.

Know Your Brakes – whether you have anti-lock brakes or not, its important to know your brakes and how to use them in the icy weather.

Don’t Stop if You Can Avoid It – stopping suddenly can make your car slide – if you can roll through a light without making a complete stop, do it.

Don’t Power Up Hills – If you apply extra gas on snow covered hills, it will make your wheels spin. As you reach the top of the hill, reduce your speed and continue downhill slowly.

Don’t Stop Going Up a Hill – start on a flat roadway before trying to go up a hill. Once you start driving up it, don’t stop.

Reference – Winter Driving Tips | AAA Exchange