Michigan drivers are all too familiar with the driving conditions in winter, yet each year thousands of accidents, injuries and deaths occur due to the winter weather even though many could be avoided if drivers follow a few rules and drive accordingly.
Start out by making sure your car is in good working condition and ready to take out in bad weather.
- Visit your mechanic for a tune-up and maintenance.
- Make sure you have plenty of windshield wiper fluid. Snow, slush and even a dry windshield can make visibility poor.
- Keep your gas tank full; if you get stuck in traffic or snow, you might need extra fuel to get home or to keep warm.
- Clean the snow off your roof, brush off your mirrors headlights and taillights and make sure your tailpipe is free of snow to prevent carbon monoxide form entering your vehicle.
Now that you’re ready to hit the road:
- Slow down. On winter roads, increase stopping distance to a between 8 and 10 seconds between cars.
- Drive with your headlights on, and be sure to keep them clean to improve visibility.
- Be aware on bridges and overpasses as they are often the first to become icy.
- Avoid using cruise control in snowy or icy conditions. It’s safer to have control of the car yourself.
- Know how to brake on slippery roads. Vehicles with anti-lock brakes operate differently from those that do not. Go to an empty snow covered lot to practice and learn how your car reacts on snow and ice.
- Be cautious when passing snow plows and sand trucks. The drivers often have poor visibility, and roads could be much worse ahead of them.
- If you find yourself in a slide, don’t panic. Don’t slam on the brakes; take your foot off the gas and steer the car in the direction you want to go.
- If you get stuck in the snow don’t spin your wheels, it will only make it worse. Clear the snow behind and in front of your tires and keep your wheels as straight as possible and rock your car back and forth gently. Keeping ice or kitty litter in the car helps in these situations too.
- If you do wind up getting stuck in a snowstorm, stay in your car and wait for help.
- If conditions are hazardous, avoid driving if possible. Wait until road and weather conditions improve before attempting to drive. If you know you need to be out, let a friend or relative know where you’ll be going and when, and ask them to check in on you.
See NHTSA’s complete list of car seat recommendations >>
If you or someone you know has been the victim of an accident due to someone else’s negligence, Atkinson Petruska Kozma Hart & Couture can help you get the answers you need. APKH&C have a 35 year history and we are advocates of injury victims’ rights. We believe in fighting for victims and their families when they cannot fight for themselves and take good care of our clients.
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