Safety Tips on Driving During Winter Storm to Keep Your Family Safe

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Snow, sleet, ice, and temperatures below freezing impact driving conditions. During the winter, driver performance in winter hazards, excellent vehicle maintenance, and common sense contribute to safety. 

As winter storms approach, everyone's attention is drawn to the issue of safety. Driving safety is crucial during a storm when roads are slick and limited visibility. This blog post will go on safety tips on driving during a winter storm that will help keep both you and your family safe!

Must-Have Winter Survival Kit:

First aid kit

Keep an emergency kit or a winter survival kit on your vehicle if you become stranded. Here are some of the things you should bring when driving during the winter season:

  • First-aid kit
  • Medicines
  • Cell phone charger
  • Blankets, warm clothes, wool socks, and other cold-weather gear to fight hypothermia
  • High-energy food (non-perishable)
  • Insulated bottled drinking water

How to Drive Safely During Winter Storm

Cars on a highway during winter
  1. Drive Slower Than Usual - There are often icy patches on the roads during winter storms. Even if you are driving slowly, you can still lose control of your car on an icy patch and end up in a ditch or worse. However, going slower will give you more time to react and avoid dangerous situations.
  2. Increase Distance Between Vehicles - Don't ever think of pushing your car up to the back of another vehicle to prevent commotion that will lead to safety issues. Always keep a distance so you can have more time to stop when the car in front of you suddenly stops.
  3. Don’t Use Cruise Control - Refrain from using the cruise control because if the driver loses control of their vehicle for some reason and hits the brakes, cruise control will not kick in at that point like it would if you were braking with your foot. 
  4. Don’t Pass Snow Plows or Salt Trucks - If you pass a snowplow, it will stir up all the salt and sand that has been spread on the roads and cause potential visibility problems for the plow driver. So avoid passing to them. 
  5. Use Your Headlights During a Winter Storm - Using your headlights during winter storms will help you see better and for oncoming vehicles to see you. The low contrast of snow on the road surface makes it harder for other drivers' eyes to adjust between light and dark areas. 
  6. Stay Away From High-Risk Areas - These areas where ice and snow have built upon roadways. This accumulation of ice can be hazardous as it will not melt during warmer days or even with higher sun angles so that those spots may stay icy for some time. So avoid passing those areas. 
  7. Avoid Quick Braking - Driving too fast on icy roads can result in losing control of your vehicle, sliding off the road, or into another car, causing a severe accident that may injure you or others. If you need to brake on ice, avoid hitting your brakes all at once, as this will make things worse. 
  8. Always Wear Your Seatbelt - The safety belt is the number one thing that can save lives and prevent injuries when involved in a car crash or collision with another vehicle on icy roads, so make sure it's fastened before driving off.
  9. Stay Inside Your Car Until Help Arrives - When you find yourself in a dangerous situation on icy roads, your first concern must be ensuring safety. Experts advise waiting until help arrives before getting out of the vehicle. If possible, try to get somewhere well lit where it's warm, or at least have someone contact the authorities for assistance! 
  10. Avoid Using High Beams - Do not use your high beams to avoid potential accidents. You should also use hazard lights if your vehicle encounters something along the way that could cause an issue for both parties: like another car accident, for example!

What to Expect When Driving in a Winter Storm

  • Iced over roads - One of the biggest dangers while driving during a winter storm is iced over roads. When it rains, the salt used to clear the roads can mix with the water and create ice on the road. This makes it very slippery for cars to drive on and cause accidents.
  • Reduced visibility - This is another significant safety hazard during a snow storm. It's difficult to see where you're going, especially if there's snow on the ground and no one has yet plowed. This increases the chances of colliding with a barrier or other vehicles hiding in the background and therefore going unreported.
  • Slippery roads - These are some of the most severe safety hazards for drivers in a winter storm. Cars can skid and lose control on iced-over roads. It is critical to slow down when driving on these roads to avoid this.
  • Carbon Monoxide poisoning - Another safety concern that people often forget about is carbon monoxide poisoning. Anytime you run a combustion engine in an enclosed space, carbon monoxide is produced. If the exhaust pipe of your car gets blocked by snow or ice, this can cause dangerous levels of CO to accumulate inside, which could result in injury or even death.

How to Prepare Your Car for Winter

A man cleans his car from snow during winter snowstorms
  • Perform a strength test on the battery.
  • Check the exhaust system and the air, fuel, and exhaust filters.
  • Refill the antifreeze and wiper fluid reservoirs, and change the oil.
  • Ensure that all the hoses, fan belts, and other parts are in good operating order.
  • Check if the spark plugs need replacement.
  • Tire pressure and tread wear should be inspected
  • Consider winter tires.
  • Prepare the jack, ice scraper, and spare tire.
  • Verify that your wiper blades are in good working order.

Conclusion

During winter storms, it is essential to be safe on the road. Avoid driving when roads are icy or snow-covered, as this will make your car slide and cause accidents. However, if you have to drive during a storm, keep these safety tips in mind! We hope you find these winter driving safety tips helpful. Remember to stay safe out there!