With winter upon us, a review of safe driving practices for operating a vehicle in snow could save you from having an accident. The last thing anyone wants to do during the holiday season is to deal with a car accident or personal injury. For your safety, we’ve compiled seven tips that hopefully help you avoid an auto accident during these winter months.
1. Drive with intention.
Be steady; no sudden or jerky movements. Driving with intention also means being forward-thinking by making conscious choices, such as easing into turns and keeping more distance than usual from the vehicle in front of you.
2. Lean into skids.
If you drive in snow, you will eventually skid, and understanding how to navigate your vehicle back into your full control is critical to avoiding a car accident. First, lay off the gas pedal, but never slam on the brakes while skidding. If the front wheels lose traction, and your wheels are turned in the direction you intended to go, your vehicle should self-correct. When your rear tires spin in snow, steer in the direction of the skid. Once the wheels stop spinning, correct your steering to the intended position.
3. Purchase winter or snow tires.
Not only will you reduce your risk of needing a personal injury lawyer by outfitting your vehicle with four proper tires for winter weather driving, but you will also increase your confidence as a driver. Calm people drive more safely. If you can afford to spend the money on winter tires, snow tires will undoubtedly give you better traction. Also, the peace of mind they create will be well worth it. Just be sure to keep an eye on your tire pressure throughout the season.
4. Once in motion, stay in motion.
Of course, this isn’t always an option, but if you can, slowly roll into that green light instead of full braking. You will lessen your chance of spinning out, which can happen in the snow when a vehicle gets moving from a complete stop.
5. Climb, don’t conquer, that hill.
The inclination to hit the gas to power up a hill is understandable, but you will likely skid or spin. That said, it would be equally unhelpful to slow down or stop. Once your vehicle begins its ascent, keep moving up and forward lest you roll back and into a personal injury claim.
6. Turn everything down a notch.
Your movements, your driving speed, and your acceleration and deceleration rates should all be adjusted to a slower pace when driving in winter weather. By following these simple tips, this will significantly decrease the chances of being involved in an auto accident.
7. Be prepared (to stay home).
Keep up to date on local driving conditions, make sure your phone is charged before heading out, and keep that emergency roadside kit in your vehicle. The best tip we can offer to avoid a potential car accident is to avoid driving in the snow whenever possible. For more information visit the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet website.
We hope these tips will help you to avoid a car accident this winter, but if you need the assistance and guidance of a personal injury lawyer, please contact our firm to discuss how we may be of service.