15 Safety Tips for Winter Driving

You know the usual driving tips for manning your vehicle in bad weather - brake in slow, steady strokes when skidding on ice, carry your cell phone at all times, keep flares in your car in case of emergency - but you cannot do much about those other drivers, especially the ones who drive on sheer ice as if it was a warm, sunny day or the people who are completely paralyzed by the sight of snow on the road and inch along like snails. Both kinds of drivers are a hazard to you. Here are a few tips on safe winter driving that will protect you from both the elements and the other vehicles on the road.

1. Allow lots of extra room between you and other cars. If it is the first snowfall of the season, many people on the road likely have not put on their winter tires and some are so anxious to get home that they are actually driving faster. Some people are stuck and don't know how to get unstuck while others are skidding every which way. Protect yourself from these types of drivers by keeping your vehicle at a safe distance from those around you. Since three to four car lengths is the standard distance that should be in between cars on the road, allow more space than this when it is snowing so you won't hit a car if you start to skid.

Beware impaired driving caused by reduced vision!

2. The position of the winter sun in combination with snow produces more glare, which limits your ability to judge how far away objects are. Even though it is winter and it may seem strange, remember to wear sunglasses - preferably those that enhance object visibility while cutting down on glare.