Teen Drivers: Driving in the Snow

During the winter season, many adventurous teen drivers head out onto the snow covered streets in hopes of arriving at their destination safely. For many teenagers, driving in the snow is a skill that is not well developed. As a result, accidents happen, oftentimes, due to simple mistakes which result in a loss of control of the vehicle. Before heading out into snowy conditions, consider these useful tips for driving on the snowy streets.

Often, the leading cause of an accident, while driving in the snow, is attributed to the inability to stop the vehicle at the desired resting location. When driving a vehicle, regardless of the drive capability, always leave plenty of room between your vehicle and the vehicles around you. Because stopping a vehicle, in the snow, requires a slow progression, begin slowing speed well in advance of the desired location.

When turning corners while driving in the snow, use caution, make wide turns and slow to a pace of three to four miles per hour. In doing so, the vehicle will gain some traction and make the turn perfectly. The key to turning corners, in the snow, is to use a consistent speed, with gradual movement of the steering wheel. Sudden movement such as jumpy steering wheel movements or braking and accelerator can cause the vehicle to lose traction while on the snow. Should the vehicle lose traction while making a turn in the snow, take your foot off of the accelerator, hold steady onto the steering wheel, until the vehicle regains traction. Never use the brake in this situation as braking will result in a locking of the wheels and attribute to even more vehicle sliding potential. Once traction is regained, place slow and steady pressure back on the accelerator.