Strategies For Winter Driving

Winter driving is here! After a long and pleasant autumn, winter arrived overnight and we need to learn to drive on ice and snow all over again.

Every year, that first jaunt into the icy winter wonderland makes us curl our toes a little. According to the “Montana Take Along Winter Survival Handbook”, 20-40% of all Montana crashes involve icy conditions. Most fatal crashes involve single vehicles that leave the road and overturn or crash into something. By taking a few precautions, our winter driving season can be a safe one.

Here are some tips from the National Safety Council for driving safely on icy roads:

Decrease your speed and leave yourself plenty of room to stop. You should allow at least three times more space than usual between you and the car in front of you.

Brake gently to avoid skidding. If your wheels start to lock up, ease off the brake.

Don’t use cruise control or overdrive on icy roads.

Be especially careful on bridges, overpasses and infrequently traveled roads, which will freeze first. Even at temperatures above freezing, if the conditions are wet, you might encounter ice in shady areas or on exposed roadways like bridges.

Don’t pass snow plows and sanding trucks. The drivers have limited visibility, and you’re likely to find the road in front of them worse than the road behind.

Turn on your lights to increase your visibility to other motorists.

Keep your lights and windshield clean.

Use low gears to keep traction, especially on hills.

Don’t assume your vehicle can handle all conditions. Even four-wheel and front-wheel drive vehicles can encounter trouble on winter roads.

Allow extra time to arrive at your destination.

If your rear wheels skid...

Take your foot off the accelerator.

Steer in the direction you want the front wheels to go. If your rear wheels are sliding left, steer left. If they’re sliding right, steer right.

If your rear wheels start sliding the other way as you recover, ease the steering wheel toward that side. You might have to steer left and right a few times to get your vehicle completely under control.

If you have standard brakes, pump them gently.

If you have anti-lock brakes (ABS), do not pump the brakes. Apply steady pressure to the brakes. You will feel the brakes pulse — this is normal.

If your front wheels skid...

Take your foot off the gas and shift to neutral, but don’t try to steer immediately.

As the wheels skid sideways, they will slow the vehicle and traction will return. As it does, steer in the direction you want to go. Then put the transmission in “drive” or release the clutch, and accelerate gently.

Put together a winter survival kits for every vehicle…

NOAA Weather Radio

Flashlight

Extra batteries

First aid kit

Blankets

Season-Appropriate clothing

Whistle to signal for help

Basic tool kit, knife & shovel

Tow chains or straps

Flares

Kitty litter or sand

Booster cables

Water

Non-perishable, high energy food

Tell someone where you are going, exact route and when you will arrive……never leave your vehicle

Drive defensively…remember there are drivers who may not be familiar with winter driving. Don’t drive distracted and always wear your seat belt.

For more information on Winter Survival in Montana please go to: http://www.mdt.mt.gov/safety/winter_driving.shtml and request a copy or download Montana disaster & Emergency Survival Guide. This publication contains pertinent information for all types of survival in Montana’s cold and snowy winters.