Winter can be a tricky time to drive. At a time when roads are slick with black ice or packed with snow, it is better to avoid driving. However, if you must drive, please use common sense and exercise caution. Here are a few useful winter driving tips:
1. Always drive with your headlights on. Visibility is usually rather low during the winter months because of overcast conditions, snow or rain. Fog can also hamper visibility quite a bit. Draw attention and be seen. Leave your lights on.
2. If you have a four-wheel driver, do not get over-confident with it. Just because you have one of these vehicles, it does not mean that you’ll be able to stop faster on an icy roadway.
3. Always give yourself room to stop. If you have anti-lock brakes, press the pedal down firmly and hold it. If you don’t have anti-lock brakes, gently bump the pedal.
4. When you approach intersections, off-ramps, bridges or shady spots, please slow down. These are areas that have the potential to develop black ice.
5. It is advisable to avoid abrupt actions while steering, braking or accelerating to lessen your chance of losing control.
6. Do not cut in front of trucks. These large vehicles take a longer time to stop.
7. Avoid using cruise control or overdrive.