Whether you are an experienced driver of 30+ years, or this is your first winter as a teenage driver, driving during the winter can be intimidating and unnerving. Thankfully, with good preparation you can feel more at ease when you get behind the wheel even in the worst conditions. Here are just a few ways to help you arrive safely at your destination by getting ready beforehand.
First, prepare your vehicle. Make sure your tires have plenty of tread and are properly inflated. Tires lose air pressure when temperatures fall, and you never want to be stuck on the side of the road in the cold.
Check your windshield wipers and scrape snow and ice from the windshield to ensure good visibility. Also keep a scraper in an accessible spot. Turn on your headlights to help other driver’s see you better.
Next, prepare yourself and plan your route. Hills and valleys make it difficult to stop and start. Before you start your journey, plan the route you will take to avoid hills and valleys. Increase following distance. Give yourself more room to stop. Allow more time to reach your destination so you are not in a rush, add braking time when approaching stop signs or traffic signals, and be patient.
Always keep a heavy coat or blanket in your vehicle in the event of a bad storm. It’s never a great thing to be stuck on the side of the road, but at least you will be warm.
Accidents will still happen, but preparing yourself and your vehicle for winter driving decreases the chances that you will become a statistic.