Winter Driving Tips
- Be able to see and be seen.
- Clean frost and snow off all windows, mirrors, lights and reflectors.
- Equip your car with good wiper blades and keep an ample supply of windshield washer fluid.
- If visibility is poor, use your full headlamps.
- Get a feel for the road when you first start out.
- Careful acceleration to test wheel-spin and gentle braking to test skidding will dictate how fast you can safely travel.
- Be gentle with both the accelerator and the brakes as you drive. A light foot on the gas is less likely to produce wheel spinning on ice and snow. Braking is best accomplished by an easier pumping action on the pedal. Locking the brakes will cause loss of steering control.
- Stretch your following distance. Ice or snow can increase your stopping distance from 3 to 10 times.
- Make turns slowly and gradually, especially at heavily traveled intersections which can become "polished" by repeated slipping and sliding of tires. Brake before you come to a curve, not while you are in it.
- Turn into the direction of the skid if the rear of your car brakes traction and begins to slide. Count on at least a small second skid as the car straightens out and be prepared to counter this sliding action too.
- Scattered slippery spots and ice patches can cause problems. Stay away from the brake, take your foot off the gas and steer as straight as possible until your car slows to a safe speed.
- You can avoid a collision by intentionally steering your car off the road and into a snowbank in an emergency situation. You may get stuck, but you'll avoid an accident and possible damage and injury.