How to Drive Safely in Ice and Snow to Keep Car Insurance Premiums Down

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Winter driving is tricky.   If possible, avoid driving on ice or snow.  However, if you must drive in winter conditions, it is important to give yourself a lot of time to get to your destination and remember your car cannot easily maneuver on ice or snow, which makes accidents more possible.  With more accidents, your car insurance premiums go up.   To avoid a winter weather accident, here are some tips for driving safely:

Get the Right Tires

Tires need at least a 6/32-inch deep tread to drive in snow and get adequate tire traction.  Summer tires offer little or no traction in the snow.  Buy a full set of four snow tires and do not mix snow tires with other tires.  To avoid skidding from your back tires, make sure your back tires and front tires have the same amount of tread.

Learn to Use Antilock Brakes

Antilock brakes are easy to use and can help you avoid a skid in an emergency.  When you need to stop, simply push down hard on the pedal, stay on the pedal and steer around the obstacle.  Do not remove your foot from the brake or pump the brakes.  Keep the heel of your foot on the floor and apply firm pressure with the ball of your foot on the brake pedal.  You will feel the brakes vibrate, which means the antilock brake is working.  When you regain control of your car, drive carefully and slowly.   

Watch for “black ice”

Keep on the lookout for “black ice.”  Black ice is transparent ice that often looks like a simple puddle or you don’t see it at all.   To better see black ice, make sure your headlights are working and clear of ice and snow.  When you encounter black ice, test your traction by slightly applying your brakes and making a minor turn of your wheel.  If you start to skid, take your slow down and turn into the skid to regain control of your car. 

Don’t Overturn the Steering Wheel

Don’t panic and overturn the steering wheel if you lose traction.  If you overturn your steering wheel, when the icy conditions end, your car will dart in the direction you turned the wheel.  This sudden movement can be dangerous and you could lose control and hit another car or a tree.  Slight changes in the wheel when driving are better to keep you safe and to keep control of your car. 

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