Winter Driving Hazards: How to Stay Safe on the Roads
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Driving in winter weather poses a unique set of hazards. As winter weather and precipitation roll in, they can create precarious driving situations. Even the smallest of trips can become a big risk without the appropriate safety measures.
Below, we’ll explore various winter driving hazards and provide valuable safety tips and essential information for navigating the roads safely.
Introduction to Winter Driving Hazards
When winter weather hits, you must prepare for various driving hazards like snow, ice, hail, sleet, and more. These can create bad driving conditions and may even cause damage to your vehicle, such as large hail causing dents or breaking your windshield.
Understanding Winter Weather Conditions
Each winter weather condition can impact driving conditions. Key hazards of winter driving to look out for include:
- Icy roads
- Snow-covered roads
- Low visibility
Common Winter Weather Patterns
Winter weather patterns vary greatly based on geographic location. Common patterns to look out for include:
- Snowstorms: These winter storms bring significant snowfall to local areas, covering the roads quickly and making driving unsafe.
- Ice storms: These can coat everything in a thick layer of ice, including the roadways. This can make the roads very slippery and make driving dangerous.
Assessing Road Conditions
Before heading out of the house during the winter, it’s a great idea to get a handle on the current road conditions and predictions on the conditions while you’re out. You can get this information in various ways, such as checking local news, official traffic reports, or apps that track road status. If the roads are icy or covered with snow, you may want to delay your trip until they are clear. If they predict bad conditions later in your trip, you may want to shorten or reschedule the journey.
Let’s review what type of hazards come with winter driving.
Icy Roads: Causes and Effects
Icy roads are some of the most dangerous winter driving hazards. You typically encounter them when rain falls on cold surfaces or temperatures drop below freezing after a thaw. This can often result in dangerous black ice, which is nearly invisible and can catch you off guard, regardless of how experienced a driver you are.
Heavy Snow: Challenges for Drivers
Snow can cause multiple winter driving hazards, but a big issue is when heavy snowfall makes roadways impassable. Plus, as cars drive over the snow, it can become compacted and create ice-like slippery conditions.
Visibility Issues Due to Snowfall
In heavy snowfall, the sheer volume of the snow can cause limited visibility. The snow’s reflective properties can also reflect the headlights toward the driver, making the poor visibility even worse.
To help combat these issues, verify your vehicle’s headlights, taillights, and windshield wipers work as intended. During a snowstorm, you can also reduce the impact of the light reflecting into your eyes by using low beams.
Essential Vehicle Maintenance for Winter
Verify your vehicle is in working condition before winter strikes. Regular maintenance can help you avoid issues caused by winter weather. Some key maintenance tasks to take care of ahead of winter and during the season include checking the battery and charging system, brakes, and windshield wipers.
Other essential maintenance items and checks include:
- Engine oil: Most modern vehicles use multi-weight oil, which prevents thickening when temperatures drop below freezing. However, some vehicles, particularly older ones, use single-weight oil and may require a lighter weight in the winter. If this is the case for you, you’ll want to change the oil. Also, changing seasons is a great time to check your oil level and top it off if needed.
- Windshield washer fluid: This may seem trivial, but ensuring your windshield washer fluid doesn’t freeze is critical. Frozen fluid expands and can break the reservoir, hoses, and electronics. If your vehicle has standard washer fluid, replace it with winter-ready washer fluid.
- Tires: If you have winter tires to put on the vehicle, check the tread depth to verify there’s at least 5/32 of an inch of tread at the lowest point. If not, you'll want to purchase new winter tires.
- Antifreeze: Your vehicle requires a precise blend of water and antifreeze to cool the engine while preventing rust and freezing. Have a shop test your mixture and replace it if it’s become out of balance.
Importance of Tire Pressure in Cold Weather
Your tires will lose about 1 to 2 PSI for every 10-degree temperature decrease. Under-inflated tires result in increased tread wear and reduced traction, making driving even more dangerous in winter.
Check your tire pressure regularly and adjust it according to the vehicle manufacturer’s recommendations, which you’ll find on the placard on the driver’s side doorjamb.
Practical Safety Tips for Winter Driving
To navigate winter roads safely, consider the following tips:
- Plan your trips in advance.
- Keep an emergency kit in your vehicle.
- Maintain a safe driving distance — make it greater than usual if road conditions are poor.
Handling Emergencies on the Road
If you’re stuck due to heavy snowfall, stay in the vehicle with the engine running intermittently for warmth. Periodically check that the exhaust pipe is clear of snow so carbon monoxide doesn’t enter the cabin.
If possible, create signals for emergency crews to see, such as tying something bright to your door handle.
Compare Insurance Quotes for Winter Protection
Winter driving hazards increase the chances of an accident, so make sure you always have adequate auto insurance. You may even consider getting seasonal car insurance by increasing coverage limits during the winter.
EverQuote can help you get the best possible price by allowing you to compare multiple auto insurance quotes to find the best one.