I just moved to Minnesota from Alabama and I’m scared of driving in the snow this winter. How do I do it? Any tips for staying safe when I’m driving in snowy weather?
Reviewed by Shannon Martin, Licensed Insurance Agent.
It can definitely be scary to drive in severe weather conditions, and that includes snow! Here are some tips for driving in the snow this winter before the roads get plowed:
Stay home if you can. Don’t take an unnecessary risk.
Drive extra slow. Your traction is reduced in the snow and high speeds are riskier.
Accelerate and brake slowly. If you speed up too quickly or try to stop too suddenly, you’ll lose traction and go into a skid. Don’t forget that it takes longer to slow down on a snowy or icy road.
Increase your following distance to five seconds or more. This will give you more time to react to the car or object ahead of you.
Avoid stopping if you can. Slow way, way down for traffic lights and stop signs, and don’t stop unless you absolutely have to.
Don’t power up hills. Most of us hit the gas when going up a hill, but you’ll lose traction on a snowy road if you do this. Try to build inertia before you hit the hill.
Look where you want to end up if you go into a skid. Most of the time, you’ll end up where you’re looking.
We hope these tips help keep you safe this winter! Don’t forget to research the
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