Question:

What should we do as safe drivers in the wintertime?

Answer:

In November I covered the first part of the answer to this question and reviewed what you can do to check your vehicle to help keep you safe in the wintertime.  The second – and very important part – to this answer is what WE can do behind the wheel to help stay safe this time of year.

While I could talk for hours on the many points of safe driving, I’m going to keep it simple and outline a few easy things to keep in mind every time you are setting out on the road in the winter months.

1. Clean the snow off your vehicle.  Always be sure to clean ALL the snow off your vehicle before driving away.  This includes not just your windows but also your hood, trunk, roof, and especially your lights.  While snow on your windows will obstruct your view and is therefore dangerous, the snow on other parts of your vehicle is a hazard to others on the road as it will begin to fly off as you travel down the road.  Snow flying off your vehicle can hit the windshield of drivers behind you, obstructing their view and possibly frightening them.  Both could cause a driver to lose control of their vehicle and cause a crash.
2. Scrape and defrost your windows.  Before driving away, always be sure to scrape any frost off the outside and use the defroster to clear fog and condensation from the inside of your windows.  Clearing a small portion of the windshield that you can look through is not sufficient and creates a very unsafe situation by limiting your vision, so be sure to completely clear all windows.  Be sure to fully clean off the back window as well, don’t just rely on the defrost to do this for you.  In the winter months you should give yourself a few extra minutes every morning to allow for time to scrape your windows – don’t drive away until all windows are completely clear!
3. Increase awareness of your surroundings.  It is always important to look ahead on the road with your eyes moving 12-15 seconds down the road as you drive, but this is especially important in the wintertime.  Looking down the road 12-15 seconds gives you enough time to respond to what you see, which is even to more critical during the winter months.  Be sure to also check your mirrors every 5 – 8 seconds so you know what is happening behind you as well.
4. Increase the space in front of your vehicle.  Instead of the usual 2 seconds of space between you and the vehicle in front of your, increase this to 3 or 4 seconds.  The larger gap will allow for the additional time it will take for your vehicle to stop on slippery roads.  Even if there is no snow on the roads, they are often much slicker from rain, frost, or ice.
5. Slow down.  This one is just common sense, but one we often forget.  During winter months it is important for us to reduce our speed to help stay safe on the roads!!  We are often rushing around during the holidays and forgetting that getting there safely is the most important thing, so even if you have many errands left or are running late – slow down!
6. Stay focussed on driving.  Distracted driving is very dangerous at any time of year, but the danger is only magnified in the winter months when road can be slick while days are shorter and darker.  Stay focussed on your driving to help stay safe – this doesn’t just mean staying off your handheld devices but keeping your mind on the task at hand – driving!  Don’t let your mind wander to the chores waiting at home or your upcoming holiday, stay focussed on driving!
7. Heed all traffic advisories.  If there are any advisories or warnings for certain roads, or in some cases of overall poor driving conditions, be sure to heed the warnings!  Don’t go out if the radio or TV is broadcasting a weather or driving related warning – they are the experts and know when conditions can become too hazardous.  Even if the weather seems fine where you are, it could be a different story 5 minutes down the road so if you are being advised to stay off the roads – stay off the roads!

These are simple little things to keep us all safe on the roads this time of year!!

Slow Down – Respond to What you See – Focus on Driving – and ARRIVE SAFE!