Stay safe this winter: Top driving tips
Learn how to navigate snowy conditions, prepare your vehicle, and ensure pedestrian safety during the cold season.
- Experts advise slowing down and increasing following distance when driving on snow or ice.
- Although weather is a factor, most crashes are caused by driver behavior such as speeding or following too closely.
- If visibility is significantly reduced due to heavy snow, pull over to a safe location off the highway.
- Prepare your car for winter by checking your tire pressure, keeping your gas tank at half-full, and packing your emergency kit.
If you ask most people who live in snowy areas if they think they’re a good driver when it starts snowing or the rain starts freezing, they’ll probably say yes. Until I spun and landed in a ditch.
Even if you’re careful, it can happen more easily than you think. Michigan State Police regularly shares safe driving tips because preventable accidents occur year-round, not just in the winter.
“We want to remind motorists to leave early, drive carefully, keep your eyes on the road, and always wear your seat belt,” said Lt. Mike Shaw of the Michigan State Police. “If you want to avoid accidents in any season, use your turn signal when turning or changing lanes, don’t drive impaired (alcohol or drugs), and be courteous to other drivers.”
Here are some concrete tips provided by experts to help you navigate at least a dangerous path when Old Man Winter runs riot.
Slow down!
Kazimieras Urbonas, an automotive expert at Ovoco, said the biggest advice for winter driving is to slow down and leave more distance when driving on heavy snow or icy roads.
Those extra few feet can make the difference between rear-ending someone or coming to a safe stop if the driver of the car in front of you slams on the brakes on a slippery road.
MSP Mr Shaw agreed.
“Weather doesn’t cause accidents; drivers cause accidents. The main causes of accidents are…driving too close, failing to stop, driving too fast, impaired or distracted driving,” he said. “We see the same dangerous driving behavior all year round.”
In fact, speed and following distance are important, as nearly 70% of Michigan crashes in December occurred during clear skies, and only 2.25% were due to snow, according to Urbonas data. This indicates that driver exposure creates a greater risk compared to weather conditions.
please turn on the light
When wind or snow reduces visibility, experts say use low-beam lights instead of bright lights to avoid glare from snowflakes. This makes your car visible to other drivers.
“With an average of 42 people killed each winter, Michigan leads the nation in winter driving fatalities. What makes Michigan so deadly is lake-effect snow from the Great Lakes, which can create whiteout conditions in a matter of minutes, coupled with busy highways that don’t slow down,” Urbonas said. “More than 22,000 winter accidents” were reported during the 2023-24 season, “of which 36 resulted in fatalities,” he added.
Please just send
Snow may be the cause of only 2.25% of December crashes in 2023, but snow creates the most dangerous conditions for driving.
“High winds can cause whiteout conditions, which can be dangerous and reduce visibility for motorists on the road,” Urbonas said.
Experts say if you can’t see more than 100 feet during heavy snow, it’s time to find a safe place to park your car. However, don’t park on the side of the highway where cars can’t see you.
Check the weather and route
Stay up to date with National Weather Service warnings and seek alternative routes if a storm warning is in effect.
Staying informed will help you avoid danger zones.
Time of day is also important, Urbonas said, as evenings and peak rush hours can be especially dangerous on these roads “especially when there’s a lot of traffic and because of lake-effect snow.”
Please have your car ready
Urbonas says freeze-thaw cycles can damage batteries and freeze fuel lines overnight, so do the following:
It’s also a good idea to have emergency supplies in your car, such as blankets, food, water, a cell phone charger, and an ice scraper in case you end up stranded somewhere for hours, Urbonas says. We also recommend keeping a snow shovel and snow boots in your car and using snow tires.
When traveling in the winter, it’s also wise to tell your family and friends your route in case you get stranded.
know the law
Remove all snow from your roof, hood, windows, and lights, as some states have laws against driving if snow or ice could fly off your vehicle and pose a danger to others.
Additionally, some states prohibit snow, ice, or sludge on the road that could impede the visibility of other drivers.
Jamie L. Lareau is senior auto writer for USA Today and covers Ford Motor Company for the Detroit Free Press. Contact Jamie at jlareau@freepress.com. Follow her on Twitter @jalaroan. To sign up for our automotive newsletter. become a subscriber.
