Here’s how to drive safely in the snow and be prepared for winter weather
Winter has arrived and Washington can expect a cold and rainy season when temperatures are low and ice and snow cover the road and driving can become extremely dangerous.
Every year more than 1,300 people are killed and more than 116,800 people are injured in car crashes on slushy, icy or snowy roads, according to the Federal Highway Administration. Every year, about 900 people are killed and about 76,000 people are injured during snowfall and sleet.
Knowing how to drive safely in winter is also just one way to prepare for snow and ice, as Washington residents should also be prepared by keeping certain items in their vehicles during the winter.
“It’s best to be prepared, have chains and know how to put them on; have a shovel and sand; use public transportation; or stay home if it’s possible to work remotely … But the bottom line is that when it is snowing hard, essentially all streets with an uphill incline can be treacherous,” Marty Gray and Amy Cloud of the Bellingham Public Works Department wrote in an email to McClatchy.
How to drive safely in snow
Gray and Cloud also recommend a few driving tips from drivingtips.com in order to ensure safe driving in winter weather:
▪ Have snow essentials in your vehicle in case of emergency, such as snow tools, food and a first aid kit.
▪ Change your tires to winter tires for better traction.
▪ Be aware of road textures and conditions before leaving your home and while on the road, such as shiny roads that usually have snow that has not frozen yet, and will be very slippery.
▪ Reduce your speed while driving in all winter weather conditions in order to have better control of your vehicle and avoid an accident.
▪ Leave a safe distance between your car and those around you.
▪ Never use cruise control during winter weather conditions, as cruise control does not react immediately to changes in road conditions.
▪ Learn how to handle skidding or hydroplaning. If you lose traction on the road, slowly take your foot off the gas and do not slam your brakes or turn sharply.
▪ Use anti-lock brakes if your car has them, as they put more force on breaking.
The American Automobile Association also offers a few tips to drive safely in winter weather:
▪ Keep at least half a tank of gas in your car at all times.
▪ Stay home, and only drive in the snow if it is necessary.
▪ Accelerate and decelerate slowly.
▪ Do not stop on the road if you can avoid it.
▪ Do not power up hills, and do not stop while going up a hill. If you try to accelerate while going up a hill, it will cause your wheels to spin.
