Tips to Help Keep You Safe on Snowy Winter Roads

 Posted on November 15, 2018 in Blog Post

With November coming to a close in a few short weeks, winter is well on its way and in Illinois, that typically means snow and other inclement weather is on its way too. With winter comes snow and with snow comes more accidents than most other times of the year. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), nearly 17 percent of all car crashes occur when there are winter conditions on the roads, like snow and ice. While winter wonderlands can be a dream landscape for some people, they can easily turn into a nightmare for others who are involved in winter car crashes. Here are four ways you can help keep yourself and others safe during this winter season:

Winter Road Safety Actually Starts off the Road

Before you get on the road after that first snow of the season, you need to thoroughly check your car to make sure it is safe to drive. When it gets cold outside, the air pressure drops, so you should check your tire pressure to make sure your tires are at peak performance. You should also check your windshield wipers to make sure they are working and are not streaking your windshield. It is also a good idea to make sure that all of your headlights, tail lights and blinkers are working - sometimes these are the only things that other drivers can see in poor visibility.

Stock Up in Case of Emergencies

You never know what will happen on the road, so you should be prepared for anything. It is a good idea to keep items like a shovel and an ice scraper in your car just in case you get stuck. You should also keep some sort of material to help you gain traction if you are stuck in the snow, like sand or cat litter. Other items to keep in the car that can be helpful are jumper cables, a flashlight, blankets, and a cell phone charger.

Remember How Slick Ice and Snow Can Be

Even though winter lasts for months at a time, when you are driving in normal conditions most of the time, you can forget what it is like to drive when there is constant snow and ice on the ground. When this is the case, you must increase your stopping times and increase your following distances. It is a good idea to give yourself a few minutes to become reacclimated to winter driving before you head out on main roads or busy roads.

Use Your Common Sense

Winter driving is dangerous enough; you do not need to add other risky behaviors into the mix, like using your cell phone while you are driving, driving while under the influence of alcohol or not wearing your seatbelt when you are in a vehicle. By now, these things should all be common sense to you to help keep yourself safe and out of trouble.

Injured in a Car Accident? A Park Ridge Car Accident Attorney Can Help

Winter driving is no joke, especially if you are not used to driving during these conditions. Not only can winter driving be dangerous to you, but it can also be dangerous to others. Certain actions can cause multi-car accidents that can be detrimental to everyone. If you were injured in a car accident, you need help from an experienced Des Plaines car accident lawyer. Our attorneys at the Quinn Law Group, LLC can provide you with aggressive representation and can help you recover damages and get the compensation that you deserve. Call our office today to schedule a free consultation at 847-232-7180.

Sources:

https://www.nhtsa.gov/winter-driving-safety

https://www.nhtsa.gov/winter-driving-tips