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Driving in winter weather is the absolute worst. It doesn’t matter if it’s hail, slush, heavy rain, or a full-on snowstorm, it can be very scary to get into a car when the weather is bad.
However, driving in bad weather is often unavoidable, as we all have places we need to get to and obligations we need to fulfill.
While you can’t decide what the weather is going to be like on any given day, you can take the necessary safety precautions to prevent a serious accident.
Here are a few tips to follow if you find yourself having to get into a car when winter weather strikes.
This is may seem obvious, but don’t go out driving in bad weather unless you absolutely have to.
If there’s a good layer of snow on the ground and you were planning on going to the mall to do a little bit of shopping, maybe put it off for another day. It’s better to be safe than sorry, especially when it comes to your safety.
Black ice causes a lot of accidents on the road, primarily because it is so hard to see. Be extra cautious of black ice when the temperature outside is near freezing.
If you notice ice build-up on your mirror or antenna, this probably means your chances of encountering black ice are up.
Do not — I repeat, do not — slam on your gas or your breaks when you’re driving in icy conditions or snow. This will cause your tires to lock up and could result in you spinning out.
Instead, lightly accelerate and lightly break. If you feel like you are losing control of your tires, though it’s tempting to slam the brakes, lightly tap the gas instead.
This will help your car to readjust while also slowing down your speed.
If at all possible, try to get to wherever you’re going traveling on as many flat roads as you can. This may mean you have to take the long way to get to your destination, but hills can cause your tires to spin out.
Put as much distance between you and other cars on the road as possible. Cars can start spinning out or hydroplaning at any second and you certainly don’t want to be in the way, should that happen.
You will probably have to drive slower than the speed limit if the weather is really bad, and that’s OK! Don’t feel bad for being a slow driver in bad weather.
