To stay safe behind the wheel this winter season, remember these tips:
Tire Tread
Even the best tires won’t do any good if they don’t have enough tread on them. Use the Penny Test to ensure that your tires have sufficient tread: Insert a penny (with Lincoln’s head pointing down) in between the raised portions of your tire’s tread. If you cannot see the top of Lincoln’s head, then your tires have sufficient tread; if you can, it may be time to purchase new tires. Insufficient tread depth doubles your stopping distance. Adequate tread reduces hydroplaning and helps prevent accidents.
Use this method to check the tread in various places on each tire to ensure that your tires are wearing evenly as well. Uneven wear could imply that you have an alignment problem, another issue that could affect your vehicle’s ability to maneuver on slick, snow-covered roads.
Proper Tire Inflation
When was the last time you checked the air pressure in your tires? If the answer is before winter temperatures set in, re-check now. For every 10-degree drop in temperature, your tires lose one psi of air, meaning that tires that were properly inflated during the summer and fall could now be at a dangerously low psi, affecting your car’s maneuverability and traction. Improper inflation can also affect things like your gas mileage and tire wear. So regularly check your tire’s psi and make sure that tires are inflated to the levels specified in your owner’s manual.
Slow Down
Driving slowly is the key to maintaining control on snowy or icy roads. Everything you do – accelerating, stopping, and turning – takes longer and is less predictable with snow or ice on the ground. The posted speed limit is beside the point in these conditions.
Accelerate slowly enough to maintain traction and then leave yourself plenty of space to slow down at traffic lights, especially on ice. Remember that bridges and overpasses freeze before roadways do.
Don’t Tailgate
Leave plenty of room between your vehicle and the one in front of you. While it’s often recommended to follow two seconds behind at 30 mph and four seconds at 60 mph, those times should be doubled in wet conditions and tripled for snow.
Be a Smooth Operator
Here’s a tip that really adds to winter safety: Accelerate, brake and steer as if you had a full cup of hot coffee on the dashboard. This helps prevent loss of control.
Another way you can think about driving super-smoothly: Drive as if you don’t have brakes at all, since you never know whether or not you’ll have any grip when you need it.
Don’t Over-Estimate Your Vehicle
Many drivers think that their all-wheel-drive or four-wheel-drive vehicles will automatically keep them safe during winter driving. The truth is, while four-wheel traction systems can help you get going in snow and ice, plus provide extra control when turning, they won’t help you stop much faster than a front- or rear-wheel-drive car if you hit a patch of ice. You’ll still need to think about driving slowly, watching for other motorists, and properly braking.