Winter Driving Safety Tips
From LoveToKnow Safety
When colder weather comes, it is even more important to keep winter driving safety tips in mind so that you are prepared for the unexpected. Driving conditions can change very quickly, and taking some time to think about what you may encounter along the way makes a lot of sense.
Top Winter Driving Safety Tips
The following suggestions will help you stay safe when you are traveling in the winter months:
- Check the forecast before heading out.
If you are going on a long trip, check the forecast for your destination as well as various points along the way. In a situation where bad weather has been forecast, you may want to postpone the trip until a later time.
- Give yourself extra time.
Instead of rushing to get to your destination in the same amount of time it would take during the warmer months, accept that it will take longer to arrive and plan to leave a bit earlier. That way, you are less likely to become frustrated at the amount of time the trip is taking, and less likely to speed up in an attempt to arrive sooner.
- Stick to well-traveled highways.
While it may be tempting to take a shortcut to try to save time, this is not a good idea in the winter months. You will want to stick to main highways as much as possible. There are two reasons for this: there are more people around and the major roads tend to get cleared more often, which means they are easier to navigate.
- Take emergency supplies with you.
Before you leave, put together an emergency kit. You can include bottles of water, some snack foods, extra blankets, a book of matches, and some candles. If you run into trouble on the road, you will want to make sure you stay warm, dry, and hydrated. You can survive for three days without water and up to three weeks without food. Staying warm should be your main objective, though: a person will only survive for about three hours without shelter.
A candle can be burned inside the vehicle to heat the interior and provide some much-needed light. Don't eat snow in an attempt to stay hydrated; it will lower your body temperature. Melt it first, then drink the water instead.
- Tell someone where you are going and when you will be arriving.
It's a good idea to tell a family member, friend, or neighbor where you are going and what route you will be taking as well as letting someone at your destination know an approximate arrival time. That way, if you are overdue, someone will know that you may have run into difficulties and need help.
- Have your vehicle checked before you leave.
Take your vehicle in for a tune-up and to have your tires checked before you hit the road. You may want to consider having winter tires installed.
- Keep your gas tank full.
The last thing you want to happen is to run out of gas in between service stations. Make a point of keeping at least a half tank of gas in the vehicle at all times.
- In an emergency, stay with your vehicle.
If you run into difficulty (such as getting stuck or having car trouble), stay with your vehicle. It provides you with shelter from the elements, and emergency personnel will find it easier to find your vehicle than to locate an individual on foot. Make sure that the exhaust isn't blocked off by snow, and then stay put.
Following these winter driving safety tips will help to keep you safe on the road when you are traveling during the colder months. You may need to take the time to do a bit more planning to stay safe than during the summer months, but the effort will be well worth it.
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This page has been accessed 1,154 times. This page was last modified 04:43, 1 October 2008.
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