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Winter Weather Driving Safety Tips for Snow and Ice

 

Photo courtesy Carfax

Photo courtesy Carfax

Beware of blowing snow. That can hide a layer of ice, including black ice. The safest snow to drive on is the kind that crunches under the wheels. That tells you the snow is firm enough to provide traction in starts and stops.

Avoid changing lanes. You are more likely to lose control trying to drive over that build-up of snow or slush between lanes than if you stay where you are, says the AAA.

Take care of your tires. Make sure they are properly inflated, and never mix radial tires with other types of tires.

Keep the windshield reservoir full. You’ll be using a lot to keep the windshield clear of road salt and grime. Never use plain water, unless you want a coat of ice that’s all but impossible to defrost. Also, never use water on a frozen lock. Instead, use a quick blast with a hair dryer, a quick squirt of 10 W 40, or a commercial lock de-icer.

Steer yourself out of a skid. Forget that confusing old rule about “steer into the skid”. It’s much easier than that – just look where you want to go and steer to get there. Smoothly and slowly, please, since quick and jerky steering can worsen the skid. 

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