Winter is nearly here. Ski season has started in Colorado, temperatures are dropping, and snow is starting to fall more consistently across the country. With November beginning tomorrow and winter officially beginning in less than two months, you’d better start preparing to drive in the snow. Here are a few way to prepare for winter driving, according to the Colorado Department of Transportation.
Prep Your Vehicle
Before hitting the road with snow or ice on the ground, you should make sure the safety features in your car are all working. That means checking your windshield wiper fluid, wiper blades, heater/defroster, radiator and anti-freeze, lights, fuel system, ignition, exhaust system, battery, and, of course, breaks, Ensure you’ve switched to winter tires if you have them, and make sure the tread is at least 3/16 of an inch. Make sure your gas tank is full before you head up into the mountains or into the snow, as well.
Pack Safety Gear
No matter how much you prepare your vehicle, it’s always possible that your car will break down or you’ll wind up stuck in snow. You should seriously consider packing an emergency kit with a snow brush/snow shovel, flashlight with extra batteries (or a crank-powered flashlight), blanket or sleeping bag, gallon jug of water, first aid kit and essential medications, tire chains and a tow strap, jumper cables, flares to signal for help, reflectors to warn other motorists, and a battery or crank-powered radio to listen to emergency broadcasts.
Additional items that can keep you safe and/or make you more comfortable if you do get stuck include an extra set of clothing (including coat, hat, mittens, boots, etc.), chemical hand warmers, non-perishable snacks like granola bars, sand or non-clumping kitty litter for traction, and a deck of cards or board game for entertainment.
Safe Driving In Snowy Conditions
None of this preparation matters if you’re going to drive dangerously when you actually hit the road. Make sure you’ve cleared your car of snow and ice before leaving. When driving in winter weather, you should make sure you only accelerate, turn, or break one at a time. Doing two or more of those at once can cause slide-outs, spin-outs, or worse.
When traveling downhill, switch to a lower gear and tap your breaks. This helps to keep traction in winter weather and avoids burning your brakes. On the flip-side, keep your momentum when traveling uphill so you don’t get stuck. If you’re driving at night, keep your headlight beams low. The high beams can lead to decreased visibility for you and other drivers.
If you encounter a multi-car collision, stay in your car as that’s safer than getting outside of it. Look ahead at signs and plan for abrupt turns or stops. Always wear a seat belt, and, of course, never drive impaired. Driving to fast for the road conditions causes most crashes, so slow down more than you normally would if the ground is wet, icy, or covered in snow.
Remember that whenever you wind up stuck in a traffic jam because of a crash headed up to ski or snowboard, there’s a good chance the person responsible for the crash was driving too fast or unprepared for the conditions.
