I suppose the best advice we hear about winter weather driving is that if the roads are bad, only drive if you can’t possibly avoid it. But let’s say you just HAVE to get somewhere. How should you drive, what do you watch for, what to remember, etc. Here are some tips on reaching your destination.

Winter Driving Hazards

Give yourself PLENTY of time.

I cannot stress this enough…You will do us all a favor out there by giving yourself enough time to safely get to wherever it is your going.

Make sure you and your vehicle are prepared before you leave. Give your vehicle a thorough inspection including a visual check of the tires, wipers, fluids, lights, and tires. Be sure to check your spare tire, many times drivers are stranded with a flat tire only to find their spare is flat as well. This is even more important in the winter.

For yourself, throw in an extra pair of winter clothing, including some snow boots, extra gloves, cap, and maybe an extra set of loose fitting clothes. Here’s a short list of items to keep in you car during the winter.

  • A good winter flashlight (I have two of these flashlights…You can charge them at your house or in your car)
  • An old blanket or two
  • Some extra windshield fluid
  • Make sure you have a good windshield scraper
  • A good snow shovel might come in handy
  • Store some non-perishable, high-energy foods or an emergency kit in your car in an empty coffee container
  • A brightly colored cloth that you can tie to your antennae
  • Some people say you should carry tire chains, but frankly, I can’t imagine trying get these on when my car is in the driveway, not to mention when my car is in 2 feet of snow
  • Compact two rope
  • Always keep your gas tank at least half full
  • Be sure to give yourself plenty of space. This is crucial when the roads are slippery
  • Keep both hands on the wheel and try to avoid sharp, quick steering inputs. That type of driving can cause you to lose control of your vehicle
  • Accelerate and brake gently. This is key for safe driving in slippery conditions. Braking or accelerating hard can cause you to lose control of your vehicle as well. If you know your vehicle is equipped with anti-lock brakes, you can step on your brakes hard in emergencies and this system will prevent your wheels from locking, helping you to retain control of where your vehicle is headed
  • Bridges are especially hazardous in winter driving since they are usually the first areas to freeze and are sometimes not treated with melting agents

If conditions become worse than you anticipated, get off the road.

If it all goes wrong and you find yourself stuck or stranded, remember the following…

Don’t leave your vehicle. Emergency personnel have a much better chance of finding your vehicle than you, so sit tight and bundle up.

Keep one window open slightly to keep you car from being sealed up by ice and snow.

It’s tempting, but don’t run your engine. This can lead to Carbon Monoxide poisoning. Some say, you can run the engine for short durations (10 minutes at a time) if you know your car’s exhaust pipe is clear, but you should really try to avoid this.