Winter is a beautiful time of year, especially in the northern and mountainous parts of the country. There’s nothing quite like the amazing sight of frost-rimed trees at the roadside or snow-capped mountains. The quiet of a winter day in a rural area, with its ice-blue skies and the smell of wood smoke in the air is like nothing you can see anywhere else.
But despite its beauty, there are potential hazards when it comes to winter travel. It’s best to be prepared and know what you’re doing when driving during the winter. Here are some tips from AAA and from my own experience.
Make sure your tires are in good shape
You’ll need to have good tires in order to drive safely in winter weather. In some areas you can get away with all-season tires, but in others you’ll need snow tires or perhaps even studded snow tires. If you’re going over mountain passes, have tire chains in your vehicle. They’re required by law in some places.
Get to know your brakes
If you have ABS, you should apply pressure to the brake pedal until you feel vibration; that’s the ABS working. If you don’t have ABS, AAA recommends that for stopping during winter travel, you keep your heel on the floor of your car and use the ball of your foot to apply very gentle, steady pressure.
Practice your winter driving skills
It’s a good idea to brush up on the special skills you’ll need in order to drive safely on snowy, slushy, or icy roads. Go to a large, empty parking lot and deliberately get yourself into a skid. Learn how to get your vehicle going where you want it to; it’s different for front-wheel-drive and rear-wheel-drive vehicles.
Start and stop slowly
Ice and slush on winter roads can make it difficult to stop easily, so take extra time to slow down. Avoid using your brakes as much as possible. Use your engine’s inertia or natural deceleration to slow down. If you’re driving a standard shift vehicle, try downshifting instead of braking. If you brake hard, you could end up losing control of your vehicle.
Let people know where you’re going
Before you leave, tell your housemates or friends your destination, the route you’re taking, and your estimated time of arrival. That way, if you get stuck, they’ll be able to look for you or send help.
Have a safety kit in your trunk
You should have the following items in your vehicle for winter travel:
- A bag of cheap kitty litter to use as traction if you get stuck
- Jumper cables in case you have a dead battery or encounter another driver with that problem
- Blankets, a warm hat, warm gloves, and snack bars in case you get stranded
- A small shovel to dig yourself out if you go off the road
- A brightly colored cloth to hang on your antenna or put in your window
- Extra windshield washer fluid
Make sure your phone is charged
There’s nothing worse than getting stranded in the middle of nowhere and being unable to use your phone to call for help. Keep your phone plugged into your car charger while you’re traveling.
Check the weather
Take winter storm warnings and winter weather advisories seriously. If you don’t have to drive in storm conditions, don’t. Nothing is important enough to risk your safety or your life. If you have to drive, make sure you have at least half a tank of gas and plenty of water to drink, just in case you get stranded.
Essentially, winter travel safety boils down to the following: use common sense, be prepared, and enjoy your trip knowing that you’ve done everything you can to keep yourself safe.