Drive Safely in Winter Weather
Wintertime can be a dangerous time to be on the road, but there are ways you can prepare your vehicle and driving techniques you can employ to reduce the chances that you’re involved in a winter weather car accident. Read on to learn about how to stay safe on the roads in winter, and contact an Idaho personal injury attorney if you’re involved in a crash.
- Make sure your vehicle is ready for winter: Before you get stuck in a storm, make sure you’ve got all-weather tires that are fully inflated and have enough tread to be safe on the road. While you’re at it, you might have a mechanic check to see that your brakes are in good condition and that your heating and cooling system contains enough antifreeze to keep it running in cold weather.
- Stock your car with emergency equipment: In case you do experience a breakdown or accident and are left by the side of the road waiting for help, pack some emergency supplies in your trunk, such as flares, non-perishable snacks, instant or battery-powered hand warmers, a blanket, and sand to help you get out of a ditch. Make sure you carry tire chains, as well.
- Don’t gun it up a snowy hill: Punching the accelerator when you’re trying to get up a snowy hill can cause you to lose traction and spin your wheels. Instead, try to gain momentum before starting up a hill, and rely on that momentum to get you up and over the hill. If at all possible, don’t stop moving while heading up the hill, as getting going again could be impossible.
- Keep extra space between you and the car in front of you: Bringing your car to a stop requires more time and distance on slippery roads, so leave more space than usual between yourself and other cars. Plus, you may not be able to tell whether there are patches of ice in the road ahead if visibility is poor, and you want to afford yourself enough time to gain control back over your car without running the risk of hitting a nearby vehicle.
- Handle skids carefully: It’s important not to brake too abruptly on slippery roads, as this can cause your wheels to lock and you to lose control of your vehicle. If you do start to skid, make sure to continue looking in the direction you want to go, and steer in the direction you want the front of your car to go. Avoid any additional braking, as this could make it harder to regain control of your vehicle. Eventually, you’ll feel your tires regain their grip on the road, allowing you to steer again.
If you’ve been involved in a serious motor vehicle accident in Idaho, get help seeking the damages you deserve for your injuries by contacting the knowledgeable and effective Twin Falls personal injury lawyers at Pedersen Whitehead & Hanby for a consultation at 208-734-2552, with additional offices in Boise at 208-336-2552.