Slip and Slide: How to Make Snow Driving Easier for Yourself

Driving always comes with some small amount of risk. No matter how careful or good of a driver you are, there is always a chance that you could get into an accident any time you get behind the wheel. Still, the risks are obviously greater when attempting to navigate snowy, slick or icy roads during winter. With this in mind, here are some simple ways that you can make winter driving easier and, more importantly, safer.

Check Your Tires Regularly

The tires are obviously one of the most important components of your vehicle since they are the only part that actually contacts the road. This fact means it is essential that your tires are in good condition and thus able to provide proper traction on slick or snowy roads. For this reason, it is vital that you regularly inspect your tires to make sure they’re not damaged, have plenty of tread left and are properly inflated. This last factor is extremely important during wintertime as tire pressure decreases as temperature drops. Driving with underinflated or bald tires dramatically limits your traction in even the best of conditions, and attempting to do so on snowy or slick roads can be a recipe for disaster.

Use the Right Tires for the Season

Many experts also recommend investing in a set of snow tires if you live anywhere where temperatures regularly drop below freezing and you regularly experience heavy snowfall. These tires are designed with a special tread pattern that provides increased grip and traction on the snow, while also helping to ensure snow can’t get packed into the treads. In addition, this improved grip means that snow tires typically provide increased braking capabilities. Of course, snow tires aren’t for everyone or every situation, and there are many cases where buying a quality set of all-weather tires can be equally as effective at allowing you to safely traverse snowy winter roads.

Keep Your Vehicle Well-Maintained

Making sure to keep your vehicle well-maintained and properly serviced is important at any time, but it becomes even more vital during the winter. In this case, your braking system is one thing you definitely can’t afford to overlook. Attempting to stop on slick, snowy roads can be tricky even when everything is working right, so you definitely don’t want to get into a situation where you’re trying to do so with bad brakes. Therefore, it is always a good idea to have your vehicle fully serviced and inspected before the worst of the weather hits to ensure you’re ready for whatever winter throws your way. If you’d rather need legal help after an accident you can get it here, but maintenance is a much easier way to go.

Drive Smart and Stay Informed

Again, accidents can happen no matter how careful you are, and there could be situations where you find yourself sliding off the road or getting hit by another vehicle despite your best efforts. Driving at appropriate speeds for the conditions is one of the best ways to decrease your risk of an accident, but sometimes there is nothing you can do about other drivers.

It is vital that you know what to do and where to turn should you get into an accident. This can mean something as simple as making sure you know how to contact your insurance company should you get into a wreck or learning more about how to apply for a truck accident lawsuit loan so you don’t suffer any unnecessary financial troubles if you’re unfortunate enough to get hit. Ultimately, driving smartly and being extra careful gives you the best possible chance of avoiding winter accidents, but it’s also important that you’re prepared for an event where that even that isn’t enough.

Every year in the United States, nearly 117,000 people are injured in accidents on snowy, icy or slushy roads. Unfortunately, many of these accidents could potentially have been avoided had the drivers involved driven a bit more carefully or ensured their vehicle was in proper condition before setting off in dangerous conditions. Still, the good news is that driving safely in snowing weather isn’t an impossible task, and it can be made even easier by following a few simple steps.

by Brooke Chaplan via Everyone's ADM Blog Posts - Automotive Digital Marketing