How To Best Avoid A Winter Car Accident
Most people don’t enjoy driving during the winter. Ice, sleet, and snow make roads slick and can provide drivers with poor visibility. Around Christmas, people can be distracted and in a hurry to make it to their families or get some last-minute holiday shopping done. These conditions can increase your chance of getting into a serious accident.
Since you’re likely to continue driving in the winter – to get to work, school, and other important destinations, here are a few winter driving safety tips to help ensure you and your family stay safe on the road:
Prep your vehicle for winter driving
- Check your tires for tread wear and air. If necessary, switch to snow tires (especially if your vehicle doesn’t have all-wheel drive).
- Check your antifreeze level
- Check your brakes, battery, belts, and spark plugs to make sure everything is working properly
- Especially on long trips, make sure to keep your gas-tank above 1/2 full (to keep you warm in case of a break-down/accident and keep your gas line from freezing)
Create and keep a winter survival kit in your vehicle
Make sure to have the essentials with you in case you get stranded in the middle of a bad storm:
- Ice scraper
- Flashlight (with extra batteries)
- Brightly colored cloth (a neon/reflective blanket)
- Flares
- First aid kit
- Shovel
- Jumper cables
- Tire chains
- A bag of salt
- Sand or cat litter
- Non-perishable food
- Water
- Warm clothing (for each member of your family have: a heavy jacket, hat, snow boots, socks, and gloves)
- Hand/feet warmers
Double-check the weather before you travel
Make sure to check the weather before you head out the door, especially on a long drive. Give yourself plenty of time to let your car warm up and allow for slower driving conditions. If you’re someone who’s typically late in the mornings, wake up a little earlier – and remember, it’s better to arrive a few minutes late than endanger yourself or others.
Adjust your driving to avoid winter car accidents
During the winter, driving is more dangerous. Winter weather conditions increase the likelihood of a car wreck accident in a few ways: reduced visibility, tires not gripping firmly against the road, and ice making it harder to turn, accelerate, and decelerate as quickly as normally.
Change you habits a bit to make driving safer for you and your passengers:
- Use your seat belt
- Avoid driving when tired. Make sure you’re alert
- Avoid quick stopping. Give yourself plenty of space between your vehicle and others to allow for delayed acceleration.
- Don’t use cruise control on a wet/icy roads.
While you can try and do everything you can drive safely in the winter, accidents do happen. If you’re injured in a car accident caused by a negligent driver, contact the best Greenville, South Carolina car accident lawyers at The Clardy Law Firm. We’ll answer your questions and ensure you get the compensation you deserve.
