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Exercising caution while operating a motor vehicle is always advisable. However, during the winter months, proper preparation and operation are more critical than ever. When there is snow or ice on the road, the hazards of driving increase, making it imperative to take steps to account for these additional dangers. In this article, we share some tips for safe driving in the winter.
Prepare Your Vehicle
The first thing to do before driving in the winter is take the following steps to properly prepare your vehicle:
Check your battery: When the temperature outside drops, it can affect your battery’s power. Therefore, you should have your battery checked out in preparation of cold weather.
Replace worn-out windshield wipers: Maintaining adequate visibility during the winter is imperative. Therefore, before driving in the winter, you should inspect your windshield wipers. If they appear to be worn out, you should replace them prior to operating your vehicle in winter conditions.
Check your tires: Properly inflated tires are necessary in cold weather. When the temperature outside drops, so does the pressure in your tires. Therefore, be sure to inflate your tires according to your vehicle manufacturer’s recommendations before operating your vehicle in snowy or icy conditions. In addition, you should check your tires to ensure they aren’t worn down. Driving on bald tires greatly increases your risk of being involved in an accident during the winter.
Keep your gas tank at least half full: You should also ensure that you maintain at least half a tank of gas in your vehicle during the winter. Should you find yourself stranded on the side of the road in freezing temperatures, this will ensure that you are able to keep your vehicle heated while you await assistance.
Pack an Emergency Kit
When it comes to cold weather, it’s always better to be safe than sorry. Therefore, before venturing out on the road in the winter, you should pack a cold-weather emergency kit in your vehicle. Having an emergency kit in your vehicle could possibly save your life should you become stranded. Items to consider including in your kit include:
- Blankets
- Flashers
- Jumper cable
- Extra jacket
- Phone charger
- Flashlight
- Window scraper
- Important medications
- Shovel
- Non-perishable food
Drive Cautiously
It is important to drive with extra caution during the winter. Since winter conditions present an increased risk of skidding, you should leave extra space between your vehicle and the vehicle in front of you. In addition, you should operate your vehicle at reduced speeds to provide additional time to react to hazards.
Stay Alert
Finally, although you should always remain alert when operating a vehicle, it’s increasingly important in snowy or icy conditions. To reduce distractions, you should consider purchasing a phone holder so you don’t have to look down to follow directions on your phone’s GPS. In addition, a phone holder may reduce the temptation to scroll and text while driving.
Contact Our New York & Long Island Car Accident Attorneys
If you have suffered an injury in a car accident in Long Island, New York, you should contact the experienced car accident attorneys of Dell & Dean, PLLC. When you come to us for help following an automobile accident, we will review the facts of your case, plan a legal case strategy, and aggressively seek financial compensation on your behalf. Please contact us today to arrange a consultation.
