6 Tips for Safe Driving on Wintry Roadways

During the colder months of the year, it is likely that you will encounter adverse driving conditions at least a few times, whether it be snow, sleet, or freezing rain. In these situations, it’s important to know how to safely operate your vehicle, which will hopefully help you avoid an accident. The first storm is always the hardest — after nine months of warmer weather, sometimes people forget the basics of driving in the snow. Here, we offer a quick refresher course.

1. Check your tires. Not only do your tires need to be properly inflated, but they also need enough tread the grip slippery roads. An all-weather tire with at least 6/32 inch of tread should be sufficient. However, if you live in an area that sees plenty of snowfall, you might want to consider purchasing snow tires, which are better equipped to handle snowy roads.
2. Slow down. This one should be a no-brainer. Snow and ice are very slippery, and it’s much easier to lose control of your vehicle if you’re going too quickly. Maintain a greater following distance than usual, to give yourself enough room to slow down (without rear-ending the car in front of you). On turns, make sure you’re applying the brakes evenly as you enter the turn, and then ease off through the second half of the turn.
3. Understand the limits of all-wheel drive. It’s true that having all-wheel or four-wheel drive can be helpful on snowy roads, since it helps give your car the traction to move forward from a stop. However, it does not help with braking, which is why it is still important to drive cautiously.
4. Know how your brakes work. First, find out whether your car has regular or ABS brakes, since they work differently on icy roads. For vehicles with ABS brakes, apply steady pressure. However, if you don’t have ABS brakes, you’ll want to quickly pump on and off the brake.
5. Keep emergency supplies in your car. It’s a good idea to keep a snow shovel and some cat litter in your car in case you get snowed in somewhere and need to dig yourself out. You should also consider keeping a blanket and flares in the car, in the event of an emergency where you are stuck on the road.
6. Don’t drive. If you can avoid it, stay off the road. With less traffic on the roads, the people who do need to travel will be less likely to get into an accident.

Stay safe this winter by driving cautiously in the snow and ice. But even the most careful drivers might find themselves in an accident. That’s why it’s important to have adequate care insurance before you hit the road. At the Bachmann-Zeitlin Insurance Agency, our representatives can assist you with all of your insurance needs, whether you need auto insurance, life insurance in Richboro, PA or Philadelphia renters insurance. Call today at 267-288-5193 to receive a free quote.