It’s best to avoid driving in winter weather conditions if you can. Driving in the snow can mean decreased visibility, getting stuck or sliding—all things any driver would rather steer clear of.
But, sometimes, we don’t have a choice. And, if you’re going to drive, it’s best to make sure you’re safe. Follow these tips to maximize your safety when driving this winter:
Leave early. You’ll want to allow yourself extra time to get to your destination. Other drivers will be driving slower than usual and you should, too. And, if you are running late, let yourself be late. It is better to be late than risk causing an accident by driving too quickly in winter weather conditions.
Keep your lights on. Driving when it’s snowing decreases visibility. Even during the day, you should keep your lights on so other drivers can see the front and rear of your vehicle. Additionally, try to maintain a distance of at least three cars between you and the driver in front of you, so if you see brake lights turn on, you’ll have plenty of space to slow down without risk of sliding into the car in front of you.
Install snow tires. If you can’t avoid driving in the winter, and you are expected to drive in the snow during a storm, you should invest in a set of snow tires that will increase your traction on the ground when you’re driving. All season tires are safe if you’re not traveling far in the snow, but for longer trips that involve higher speeds and highways, you’d be safer to have snow tires instead.
Don’t pass the plows. If a plow truck is in front of you, it is clearing snow ahead and laying salt. If you pass a plow, you potentially could be driving into unsafe territory if there is ice and snow that hasn’t been cleared yet. When you encounter a snow plow, stay at least five car lengths behind it because, otherwise, the snow plow operator might not be able to see you. And, snow plows drive slowly—it is common for motorists to rear end snow plows. You can avoid this by driving slowly and keeping your distance.
Don’t use cruise control. If you are driving on a highway during a snow storm, don’t engage your cruise control. It’s critical that you have the utmost control of your vehicle so you can remain at a slower speed, you can slow down steadily if you need to, and you can control how close you are driving to the motorists in front of you.
Save your independent insurance agent’s phone number. Hopefully, you won’t need to drive in winter weather conditions, but if you don’t have a choice, it’s important for you to follow these tips to stay safe. But if an accident occurs, call emergency services first, and then find our number in your contacts and give us a call. And, talk to us ahead of time. Whether we like it or not, winter is here. Give our office a call, so we can make sure that you have the optimal coverage to protect you, your family and your vehicle in the event of a winter-related accident. We look forward to hearing from you.
Matt McDonough is PIA Northeast's writer, editor and content curator. Matt joined PIA Northeast in September 2023. Before that, he had been an editor for the online entertainment magazine Collider from 2021-23 as a copy editor for its lists section. Matt entered the world of journalism at his alma mater, SUNY New Paltz, writing and reporting for the college's student run newspaper, The New Paltz Oracle. He graduated from SUNY New Paltz with a Bachelor of Arts in English and a minor in Creative Writing in 2020.
