Winter Driving Safety Tips
Even if you are not travelling far, any winter drive can pose an increased risk when compared to summer driving. Dangerous weather can appear at any time, and if an accident happens when your car is disabled, it can lead to life-threatening situations. The Federal Highway Administration estimates that 22 percent of the more than 5.7 million car accidents in the U.S. annually are caused by weather or slick pavement. Sadly, an average of 5,900 people are killed and 445,000 are injured in weather-related accidents every year.
Follow a few simple preparation recommendations before you head out on the roads this winter.
1. Check your equipment.
Some parts of car maintenance are easy to remember, but others are not so obvious. Cold weather can reduce the conductivity of electrical parts in cars, draining batteries and stressing other connections. Test the battery and charging system, including battery cables and terminals to make sure everything is working properly. If you do not already have them, consider adding a set of jumper cables in your trunk to help start either your car or one owned by a friend or neighbor.
Other less visible parts of your car, like drive belts, spare tires and headlights, can wear down without you noticing,. AAA recommends making a seasonal maintenance checklist of items to revisit to make sure everything is working properly. It is similar to checking your smoke detector batteries when daylight savings time comes around each year.
2. Practice safe driving.
Be aware when the road conditions are subject to ice. Watch for temperatures below or near freezing. If there is or has been precipitation, there may very well be ice in spots.
Many cars have indicator lights telling you when you are losing traction. These are helpful to call attention to the road conditions. This traction control indicator senses when one or more wheels are spinning faster than they should be. If that light appears on your dash, even if you do not feel your car losing traction, reduced speed and maintain your lane.
But “regular” and “black” ice can appear without warning from your car or your direct vision. Watch the surface of the road carefully when you see the temperature drop below freezing and when the roads have been wet. Black ice forms when moisture on the ground freezes rapidly and attaches itself to the pavement. Black ice is commonly found on roads that seldom receive
sunlight, experience low traffic volume, in tunnels, in underpasses, and on bridges according to Erie Insurance Company.
If you see the road surface glittering or even just when the conditions are right for ice, take your time, drive slowly and watch the indicator lights. If you do hit black ice, many experts advise not to apply the brakes. Instead, take your foot off the accelerator and coast until you feel the car gain traction again.
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration recommends leaving more space between cars in traffic to provide more time to stop if the car in front of you stops suddenly or loses control on a snowy or icy road. The agency also recommends practicing driving in hazardous conditions to prepare yourself to react properly. If safe to do so, consider rehearsing maneuvers in the daylight in an empty, icy parking lot.
3. Check the forecast and plan a route.
Even if the weather is clear and the roads are dry when you leave home, the weather can change quickly this time of year. AAA recommends that you check the forecast along your planned route before taking off and making adjustments if necessary. Most smartphones have a weather app, and the National Weather Service lists weather warnings for each state on its website. Make sure someone else knows your planned route, destination, and time of arrival as well. Also make certain that your cell phone is charged. If you need it, you will want it to work until you are in a safe situation.
4. Plan extra time to get to your destination.
In addition to adding to your stress, hurrying to get somewhere can cause you to take unnecessary risks, such as stepping on the gas to make it through a traffic light when you should stop. In the winter, as the roads worsen and more people drive rather than bike or walk, these risks are magnified. Plan extra time to make it to your destination. If you are traveling a long distance, map out your route ahead of time using an online tool. The Kansas Department of Transportation maintains an online service called KanDrive that allows drivers to check road conditions in a given area and to map a route. Having that extra cushion of time may clear your head and stop you from taking unnecessary risks which will put you in a dangerous situation on snowy or icy roads.
5. Prepare an emergency kit.
If you do get into an accident, you may have to wait a while for help to come to you, especially if you live in a more rural area. With cold weather and potentially long waits, it is smart to have supplies in your car to keep you warm and safe.
A blanket or sleeping bag, extra coats, water, food and a flashlight are good items to have in your car. A first aid kit will help treat minor injuries in the event of a wreck, and an ice scraper with a brush is always helpful in the winter. Also consider including metal-rimmed tea light candles in an old tin can or coffee can. If your car is disabled, the warmth put off by the candles can
increase the temperature inside the car by as much as 25-35 degrees. Obviously, use caution when lighting a flame inside your vehicle. The Wisconsin Emergency Management Team recommends bringing all necessary medications as well as a tow chain or rope, a shovel and sand or cat litter to help get your car out of the snow if you become stuck. The sand or cat litter provides better traction around tires spinning in the snow.
Also consider fueling up before your tank is down to less than one-quarter full. You may need to run your car for a long period of time to stay warm if you are stuck. Travelers Insurance Company recommends being more vigilant and keeping your gas tank at least half full in case
