12 Essential Winter Driving Safety Tips | Be Prepared for Icy Roads

The winter season brings icy roads, slippery conditions, and wintry weather that can make driving more hazardous. As a driver, you need to take extra precautions to ensure you reach your destination safely. Below are 12 key tips to help you safely navigate winter driving conditions. 

1. Check the Weather Forecast and Road Conditions
   Before heading out, check the latest weather forecast and road conditions. Weather can change quickly, so stay updated on winter storms, icy roads, slippery conditions, or areas with heavy snow cover. Sites like Weather.gov provide local alerts and warnings to help determine if driving is advised. 
   
   
2. Equip Your Vehicle with Winter Tires
   Installing winter tires, or at least making sure your tires have adequate tread depth, provides critical traction to grip slippery roads and icy conditions. The grooves in winter tires eject small slush channels, enabling tire contact for braking and handling. 
   
   
3. Clear Ice and Snow off Your Vehicle
   Use an ice scraper, snow brush, and broom to remove all snow and ice from your vehicle’s windows, roof, hood, tail lights, and external lights. Double-check that all driving surfaces are clean before departing, as accumulated ice and snow can fly off when driving.
   
   
4. Check Your Tire Pressure
   Tire pressure decreases in cold winter temperatures, so check and inflate them to the vehicle’s recommended PSI level. Proper inflation is key for maintaining vehicle balance and allowing the tread to grip the road.
   
   
5. Stock Your Vehicle with Emergency Supplies
   Carry a winter emergency kit containing traction mats, jumper cables, a flashlight, warm clothing layers, gloves, hats, blankets, non-perishable food, water, and a first aid kit. Should you get stuck, skid off the road, or break down, these supplies can prove essential. 
   
   
6. Drive for Conditions
   Adjust your driving based on winter conditions. Slow down, leave plenty of stopping distance, avoid sudden movements of your drive wheels, and use gentler stopping/starting. Slick roads can triple reaction times and stopping distances. Using cruise control is not advised. 
   
   
7. Brake Gently
   Pump your brake pedal slowly and gradually to avoid skidding should you lose traction. Anti-lock braking systems pump brakes automatically, but gentle braking helps maintain control. Give yourself plenty of time to brake before stops and intersections. 
   
   
8. Watch Your Speed
   Higher speeds increase the likelihood of skids and loss of vehicle control should you encounter slippery roads, icy conditions, or run into compact snow banks. Maintain control by moderating acceleration and keeping speeds low. 
   
   
9. Maintain a Safe Distance from Other Vehicles
   Give yourself ample room to stop, even when roads appear clear. Icy patches often lurk under fresh snowfall. Use the “3-second rule” as your minimum following distance to avoid multi-car pile-ups. 
   
   
10. Stay Centered in Your Lane
    Avoid sudden lane changes to prevent fishtailing or spin-outs, especially when switching from a clear to a snow-covered lane. Carefully check your surroundings and use turn signals before making necessary lane adjustments. 
    
    
11. Ensure Your Gas Tank is Full
    A full gas tank prevents fuel line freezing and stalling out should you get stranded or stuck running your engine for heat. Run heaters only sporadically to conserve fuel during long delays. 
    
    
12. Avoid Distractions from Mobile Devices
    Refrain from phone calls, texting, or programming your GPS while driving on icy roads or in poor visibility. Hands-free calling is also discouraged, as attention to winter road hazards takes full concentration. 

End Notes 

Exercising added caution, vigilance, and preparedness this winter driving season can get you safely to your destination despite poor road conditions. Maintaining focus on driving, controlling speed, and increasing following distance makes all the difference.