During the holiday season, winter driving can be a difficult and stressful chore. Whether it’s driving 15 minutes to a holiday party or 6 hours to your parents’ house, there are plenty of dangers on the road to make driving less than inviting this holiday season. In an effort to keep you and your loved ones safe this winter, DMV.com offers our top ten winter driving tips and facts:
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Holiday DUIs can kill — If you need to travel, stay sober and be alert for drunk drivers on the road. Unfortunately, holiday parties lead many drivers to make poor decisions. As a result, 40% of all traffic deaths over Christmas and New Years are caused by drunk driving.
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Turn on your low beams — Many states require you to keep your headlights on when weather conditions require the use of windshield wipers to help other drivers see your car on the road. However, ensure your low-beams are on as the glare from snow hitting your high beams can significantly reduce visibility.
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Ensure your car is winter ready — If you live in an area that could be impacted by snow or other winter weather, be sure to bring your car in for a winter checkup. Also, depending on where you’re travelling this holiday, it may be necessary to put on snow tires. Winter-weather related crashes make up 43% of all weather-related crashes in the US.
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Have a travel emergency kit — If you travel by car regularly during the winter season, ensure you have an emergency aid kit in your vehicle. Being prepared in the event that you may be stuck in your car due to weather or an accident could save your life. Some items that should be included are bottled water, booster cables, a shovel, extra dry clothing, candles, matches, and non-perishable foods. Recent snowstorms in the Northeast are a strong reminder that extreme winter weather can strand you at any moment.
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Give yourself space – Winter driving requires more frequent stops and maneuvering than driving in good weather conditions. Ensure you give yourself at least 5 seconds of distance between you and the car ahead of you and even more space in icier conditions. Enough travelling space between cars can be the difference between a pleasant drive and a serious accident.
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Ensure the health of your battery – Batteries are more likely to die during the winter due to a drop in power output and the increase in strain on your battery for winter-related car features such as heaters. When cold weather arrives, ensure your battery is no more than approximately five years old and double check that everything electrical is off when getting out of the vehicle. These precautions could prevent you from being left stranded in a parking lot looking for help this Christmas season.
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Check your tire pressure regularly – Many drivers aren’t aware that as the temperature gets cooler, tires begin to lose pressure. Most tire manufacturers state that tire pressure drops 1-2 pounds for every ten degrees of temperature change. Under-pressured tires can lead to blown tires and a lack of traction on the roads. Ensure you regularly check your tire pressures during the winter season.
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Keep your fuel level high – Fuel tanks are more susceptible to freezing in the winter so it is recommended you keep gas levels in your car at over 50% throughout the winter. The extra fuel also offers the added benefit of offering extra weight to the car, which can assist with control issues during winter driving.
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Don’t slam your brakes – One of the most common mistakes inexperienced winter drivers make is slamming the brakes when hitting a slippery patch. Even with ABS, hitting the brakes can cause you to lose even more control and result in your vehicle going further off balance. By keeping a cool head while looking and steering in the direction you want the vehicle to go, you’re much more likely to get control and avoid a devastating accident.
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Stay in your vehicle if you’ve become snow-bound – Many panicked drivers (particularly ones without an emergency kit) leave their car to look for help when they become stranded in the snow. This is extremely dangerous as weather conditions can deteriorate, making it difficult to navigate and harder for rescuers to find you. Wait in your vehicle, ensure that the cabin isn’t sealed and your exhaust pipe is free of snow and ice if you keep the car on, and utilize your emergency kit to wait out the storm.
Winter driving can be stressful and a challenge for even the most experienced drivers. By following our ten helpful tips, you and your family will have a much better chance of getting to your destination safely this holiday season.
The tips included within were developed with information provided from the following sources: