How to Make Winter Travel Safer

Winter driving tips can help prepare you for colder weather. There are actions you can take to make driving safer in the ice and snow.

The National Safety Council (NSC) provides driving tips for prepping your car for winter weather as well as for driving in it and avoiding accidents.

Winterizing Your Car

Not only is regular maintenance a must, for winter you should also do the following:

• Battery check. In cold weather battery power drops with the temperature.
• Cooling system. Ensure your cooling system is working.
• Winter tires. You need the extra traction to drive in ice and snow. If using all season tires, ensure the tread is at least 2/32 of an inch.
• Tire pressure. Lower temperatures make tire pressure drop, so add air if needed.
• Windshield wiper blades and wiper fluid. Replace blades if necessary. Use wiper fluid rated for -30 degrees.
• Now is a very bad time to run out, so ensure you have at least a half tank of gas in your vehicle.

Before Driving

Here are some steps to take before heading out on the road:

• Warm up the car before driving. However, to avoid carbon monoxide poisoning, never leave it running with the garage door down.
• Remove ice, dirt or snow from automatic sensors such as your automatic emergency braking system.
• Clean side view mirrors and car's external camera lenses.
• If you have to drive in bad weather, tell someone about your travel plans.

Winter Driving Tips for Avoiding Accidents

Preventative driving can reduce the risk of accidents. You practice the following.

• Do not use cruise control when driving on ice and snow.
• If you start skidding, drive in the direction of the skid. This helps you avoid overcorrecting to stay in your lane.
• Take it easy on the brake and accelerator by braking and accelerating slowly.
• Increase your distance between other vehicles. You to have about 8 to 10 seconds to brake in time.
• If at all possible, do not stop when driving up a hill.

If you suffer serious injury and believe the other driver caused the accident, we can help. Our attorneys at Sackstein, Sackstein & Lee, LLP offer a free consultation to discuss your potential case.