Five Snow Driving Mistakes to Avoid

Waking up to thick snow can look beautiful, but it makes driving much harder. Driving on snowy or icy roads is risky and creates many challenges for every driver. Luckily, you can take steps to make your winter drive much safer. Each year, almost 25% of weather-related car crashes happen on snowy, icy, or slushy roads. Another 15% happen while it is snowing or sleeting. By avoiding common errors, you can lower your chances of an accident. Here are five things drivers often do wrong in the snow and what you should do instead.

It is best to avoid unplanned trips when the weather is bad. Unless your car is ready for winter, a snowstorm can be very dangerous. You should always have a safety kit in your car. In winter, this kit should include a small snow shovel, a flashlight, an ice scraper, warm gloves, and a blanket. You can buy ready-made safety kits that have most of these items. They are easy to store in your trunk.

Before you drive, keep your gas tank at least half full. Gasoline does not freeze under normal conditions, but a fuller tank leaves less space for water to collect. Ice can form in your fuel lines and make it hard to start the car. Your tires are the most important part of winter safety. All-season tires can handle light snow if they are new, but their performance gets much worse as the tread wears down. Tires with a half-worn tread, about 5/32 to 6/32 of an inch, perform noticeably worse on slick roads. This includes wet, snowy, or icy surfaces. If your all-season tires are worn, you should consider waiting for better weather or replacing the tires. If you live in a very snowy area or drive in winter conditions often, you should consider switching to dedicated winter tires.

Do not forget other basic car maintenance. Make sure your antifreeze is filled to the proper level and your battery is fully charged. Also, check that your front defroster and rear window defogger are working correctly.

If you have a habit of following other cars too closely, winter is the time to stop. Tailgating is very dangerous on snow, ice, or wet roads. These conditions make it take much longer for your car to stop. Also, snow or fog can reduce your visibility, giving you even less time to react to danger. To stay safe, you should double your normal following distance. Try to leave eight to ten seconds of space between your car and the vehicle in front of you. This extra space gives you time to react if the car ahead stops suddenly or skids. Use gentle braking and stay alert to road conditions. This will help you avoid rear-end collisions.

You should always obey the speed limit, but snow and slush mean you need to drive slower. On slippery roads, it is safer to drive below the posted speed limit. Slippery conditions can reduce safe travel speeds by 30 to 40%. Even roads you know well can be tricky to navigate in winter. Driving too fast in snow reduces your reaction time. It also makes any collision more severe and makes it harder to avoid sudden hazards.

On the highway, there is no truly safe high speed in winter. You must pay close attention to the road. Adjust your speed, especially on roads that have not been treated with salt or sand. Be extra careful when turning. If you are worried about being late, plan to leave a few extra minutes early for your trip.

On a cold morning, it is tempting to leave some snow on your car for a few extra minutes of sleep. Do not give in to this temptation. You must clear all the snow and ice from your car, not just the windows. Snow and ice on your roof, hood, mirrors, lights, or windshield wipers can be dangerous. It can blow onto your windshield while you drive, blocking your view. It can also fly off and hit other cars. Driving with snow or ice on your car is illegal in many states. Fines can range from $25 to several hundred dollars. If your snow causes an injury or property damage, the fines can be even higher.

Give yourself enough time in the morning to clear your car completely. You can start your engine a few minutes early to warm it up and turn on the defrosters. However, never leave a car running in a garage or other enclosed space. Those few extra minutes can prevent accidents and keep you, your passengers, and other drivers safe.

Stay calm if your tires start to lose traction. Your first thought might be to slam on the brakes when your car skids on ice or snow. This is usually the wrong move. Slamming the brakes can lock your wheels, making it harder to steer and giving you less control. Instead, take your foot off the gas pedal and let the car slow down naturally.

If you need to brake and your car has an Anti-lock Braking System (ABS), apply steady and even pressure on the brake pedal. If your car does not have ABS, you should gently pump the brakes to maintain traction. Remember, stopping distances are much longer in snow and ice. On snow, it can take three to four times longer to stop than on dry roads. On ice, it can take five to ten times longer because there is so little friction. This is why slowing down early, braking gradually, and leaving extra space between cars is so important.