Winter Driving Tips to Keep Your Safe and Save You Money on Car Insurance

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With the first big winter storms starting in the northeast, every driver should take the time to review tips for safe winter driving.  To avoid an unhappy new year, it’s best to play it safe.  More accidents result in higher car insurance premiums and, in these tough financial times, every penny counts.  To avoid an accident this winter, keep these tips in mind:

Pay Attention and Be Prepared

Make sure you are alert and not fatigued when you set out for a road trip.  Get plenty of sleep the night before and plan your route, including breaks, in advance.  If there is a storm, it might be safer to delay travel or only drive during the day.  If you must travel in a storm, pack an emergency kit with water, flashlights, blanket, jumper cables, battery-powered radio, flares, a first aid kit and non-perishable food.  

Drive Carefully

Speed up and slow down slowly.  If your car begins to skid, slow down and turn into the skid to regain control of your car.  If your car gets stuck in the snow, applying the gas slowly will help you gain traction.  Take extra time to slow down for stop signs and traffic lights.  Remember, it takes longer to drive on ice or snow covered roads.  No car movements, such as turning or slowing down, happen as quickly on ice as they do on pavement.  Give yourself extra time to get to your destination. 

 Back Off

Stay a careful distance between you and the car in front of you.  On dry pavement, a good distance between you and the car in front of you is three to four seconds.  In snow or on icy roads, this should be increased to eight to ten seconds.  Leave enough room between you and the car in front of you so you can avoid snow and ice hitting your windshield.  Be extra careful driving at night.

If You Have to Drive Up or Down a Hill

When coming up to a hill, accelerate a bit before so the car will going faster when you get to the hill to carry you to the top.   Waiting until you are on the hill to accelerate will only result in your wheels spinning.  Do not stop on an icy hill because you will probably not be able to get traction to keep climbing.   When you reach the crest of the hill, slow down and go down the hill as slowly as possible. 

Following these winter driving tips, you will be a safer driver and avoid any costly claims for an accident this winter.

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