Winter Safety Driving Tips

1/1/2023

Prepare Your Car for Winter –

Test your battery; battery power drops as the temperature drops
Make sure the cooling system is in good working order
Have winter tires with a deeper, more flexible tread put on your car
If using all-season tires, check the tread on your tires and replace if less than 2/32 of an inch
Check the tire pressure; tire pressure drops as the temperature drops
Check your wiper blades and replace if needed
Add wiper fluid rated for -30 degrees
Keep your gas tank at least half full to avoid gas line freeze
Remember to keep your car’s emergency preparedness kit fully stocked, too.

Before You Start Out -

Clean your car’s external camera lenses and side view mirrors so you’ll be able to see what’s around you
Remove dirt, ice and snow from sensors to allow the assistive-driving features like automatic emergency braking to work
In frigid weather, you may want to warm up the car before you drive it
To prevent carbon monoxide poisoning, never leave a vehicle running in your garage – even with the garage door up
If the forecast looks iffy, wait out the storm if possible; if you must travel, share your travel plans and route with someone before you leave

How to Avoid a Crash –

Avoid using cruise control in wintry conditions
Steer in the direction of a skid, so when your wheels regain traction, you don’t have to overcorrect to stay in your lane
Accelerate and decelerate slowly
Increase following distance to 8 to 10 seconds
If possible, don't stop when going uphill

If visibility is severely limited due to a whiteout, pull off the road to a safe place and do not drive until conditions improve. Avoid pulling off onto the shoulder unless it is an absolute emergency. Limited visibility means other vehicles cannot see yours on the shoulder.