Winter Driving Safety Tips

A snowstorm just hit your area last night, or maybe it's still happening. You'd rather not go to work, and if you can avoid winter driving, you should. But many times that's not an option. Which means, you'll have to go through the tiring, often frustrating, sometimes boring winter driving.

Sometimes we try to drive faster to prevent being late, or in many cases, less late, but if you push your luck by even a bit on a snowy or icy road, you can find yourself in a crash. And this will not only make you very, very late and possibly ruin your car, but you can hurt someone else as well.

In the winter, you often have to adjust your driving to suit the weather conditions. When a heavy snowstorm hits and there is snow and ice everywhere, you have to drive much more carefully. If you don't, an accident, such as a potentially fatal car crash, could occur.

Here are tips to help reduce your chance of a winter driving accident:

Drive slower - While it may seem obvious, too many drivers drive too fast which can cause accidents especially when combined with icy roads.

Watch out for black ice - Just because you don't see ice doesn't mean it's not there. Black ice is a nearly transparent ice that drivers often overlook or don't see, so watch out for it.

Give yourself room to stop - In the winter, you'll need to brake with more distance between your car and the car in front of you, because of the ice and other conditions.

Clear off the snow and ice from your car - Before you drive, brush as much snow as you can off of your vehicle, including all windows, the front and back windshields, the lights and the roof. Blocks of snow and sheets of ice can fall down while you drive, if you don't clear it, it can fall and cover your back windshield, which makes it hard to see, or it can hit the car behind you. Also check that all the lights are unobstructed so you can see everything, and so that others can see you. Keep a snow brush and/or ice scraper in your car, so you can do this wherever you're leaving from.

Don't try to pass snowplows and trucks - They have limited visibility so while you may see them, they might not see you.

Do not use cruise control - When tires slip, they will accelerate and you can lose control of your car. You want to be in full control whenever possible.

Check your tires - You should check the tire pressure and tire condition regularly. Tires lose air every month regularly, and they'll lose even more during the winter months. By keeping your tires in good condition, they'll provide extra traction, reduce stopping distance, and even save a little gas.

And make sure you have good tires, too! - Winter driving calls for winter tires, or maybe, some very good all-season tires. And don't waste time or money with cheap, low-quality tires that don't last too long. It's better to get high-quality tires, even if they cost more, because they will prove themselves through better traction on the roads and more durability over time.

Have a cellphone or other communications device - Bring one if you have one. Incase you find yourself in an emergency, it's good to have a cellphone so you can call the police, an ambulance, or someone you know as soon as possible (if you're in an area with service). In Ontario, dialing *OPP will connect you to the nearest Ontario Provinicial Police communications center.

Driving in bad, wintery weather conditions can be hard and treacherous, regardless of the technology on your car or even your driving skill. Be careful and be safe when driving on snowy and icy roads. It is best not to drive in such conditions, as it can be very dangerous. But if you must, follow these tips!