New Truck Owner? Be Aware of Your Truck's Limits

Winter Driving Season Is Coming, Use These Tips To Stay Safe On Snow & Ice Covered Roadways

1 September 2016

Christine Brooks

Living in an area that gets more than just a light dusting of snow can have some excellent benefits, such as being able to take part in winter sports like ice skating and snow skiing. But it can also pose challenges like driving on snowy or icy roadways for several months each year. If you would like to make sure that your family remains safe while driving in treacherous weather this winter, these tips will help.

Prepare the car for winter driving

A car that is properly maintained and outfitted for winter driving will be much safer than one that is not. Make it a part of your autumn auto maintenance plan to:

• replace worn or faulty tires
• have brakes checked for wear and adjusted or replaced, as needed
• have the coolant levels checked and, if needed, have the system flushed and refilled with clean coolant
• have belts, hoses and lights checked
• make sure the car's heater is working properly

In addition, make sure that each vehicle your family uses is stocked with emergency supplies, such as traffic flares, blankets, non-perishable foods, like nuts and jerky, and bottled water so that you can remain comfortable and safe if you do become stranded or stuck in bad weather.

Plan routes wisely and make sure they are known

When snow and ice are expected, take time to plan your route carefully to help prevent accidents and delays due to the weather. Contact your local street or highway department and ask which streets and highways are considered to be a priority in your area. These are the roadways that you will want to use whenever possible. You will also want to plan your route to avoid roadways with steep embankments, excessive hills and treacherous curves, if at all possible.

In addition to planning your route carefully, make sure that other family members know the route you will be traveling and the time you expect to reach your destination. Keep your cell phone with you and make sure that it is fully charged, in case you need to call for help or a tow.

What to do if you find yourself in the ditch

If you car slides off into a ditch or median and becomes stuck, make sure that it is well out of the traffic lanes. Since many injuries occur when motorists are attempting to get their car free from a stuck situation, consider contacting a reputable towing company in your area, instead. If you can safely do so, place your emergency flares near your vehicle to alert other traffic and give the tow company assistance in locating you.

This will allow you and your family to remain in the car, where it will be easier to stay warm and avoid injuries from slipping and falling in the snow or being struck by other vehicles or debris from the nearby roadway.   

Share