9 Winter Driving Tips to Help Keep You Safe

BAY CITY, Mich. –– Driving on snowy and icy roads during can be very dangerous even for an experienced winter driver. The possibility of losing control of your vehicle due to the road conditions is greatly increased, and the freezing temps make any accident or mishap even more perilous. But thankfully, there are ways to mitigate the risks and ensure your well-being out on the road. Try these nine winter driving tips to help keep you safe this time of year.

Clear Off Your Windshield

Before you even start driving, it is extremely important to clean all the snow and ice off of your vehicle's windshield, windows, headlights, and brake lights. Clear visibility while driving is crucial to your safety while driving out on winter roads and to the safety of other drivers. You may often see some trying to drive to work in the morning while looking through a tiny little hole they cleared in the ice on their windshield. Simply put, that is not safe, and you should never do it. Take the time to clear off your windshield and other windows.

Drive Slower

Driving slower is the best way to stay safe on the roads this winter. Your reduced speed allows you to have more time to brake, react to other vehicles, and will lessen the impact of any slipping or sliding.

Allow for More Space Between Vehicles

Allowing for double or even triple the amount of distance you would normally give between you and the vehicle in front of you is important on snowy roads. In fact, the recommended that the normal dry pavement following distance of three to four seconds should be increased to eight to ten seconds in snowy conditions. The added space allows you more time to react to their movements and brake if need be.

Don't Brake Abruptly

Putting your foot down hard on the brake pedal won't help you stop in snowy driving conditions. Instead, if you need to stop, slowly apply the brake. This way your wheels will slow their rotation in a controlled manner before coming to a complete stop. A hard stop will make your tires lose their grip on the road and slip.

Don't Take Sharp Turns

Make slow, wide, and deliberate turns to maintain control of your vehicle in the snow. Sharp or fast turns through intersections or elsewhere can cause your vehicle to fishtail, swinging the back of the car out of control, with the possibility of hitting another vehicle.

Don't Use Cruise Control

Cruise control can be extremely dangerous to use during winter. If you're driving on the highway or just a normal road with cruise control activated and your vehicle slides on some ice, slush, or snow your wheels may wind up off course. The cruise control will then keep you accelerating on your new path potentially sending you off the road, into a ditch, or maybe even into oncoming traffic.

Winter Car Care

The best way to ensure your vehicle is up to the task of winter driving is by completing our Winter Car Care maintenance routine. During freezing temps your vehicle's internal components can become compromised, crack, break, or become disabled. It's also important to get your vehicle's battery, tire pressure and tread, heating, and other components as winter sets in.

Check the Forecast

Keep an eye on the weather channel or other meteorology services for what is headed your way. If possible, avoid driving during snowstorms or in other poor road conditions.

Practice Driving in the Snow

The best way to become a comfortable and skilled winter driver is to practice. Find an empty parking lot with some snow and ice where you can practice turns, braking, and more so that you're prepared for anything out on the road.

Driving on the snow and ice can be nerve-wracking but if you follow our nine winter driving trips to help keep you safe, you'll feel much more confident in your ability to be on the roads this time of year. If you have any additional questions about our Winter Car Care maintenance routine, schedule an appointment at our Graff Chevrolet Bay City Service Center. We'll make sure your vehicle is ready to handle the cold weather. Or, if you're interested in any new 2017 or 2018 Chevrolet models and their advanced safety features, give our friendly sales staff a call. They will answer any questions you may have and can even help you schedule a test drive to check out a new sedan, truck, or SUV in person!

Hank Graff Chevy is located at 3636 Wilder Road, Bay City, MI 48706 and we are here to help our community grow to become an even better place to call home! For more information on Hank Graff Chevrolet, or for any questions call us at (989) 684-4411 or visit our website: www.GraffBayCity.com.

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