Driving during the winter months may feel daunting, especially if you are a new driver. Severe winter weather is not only frightening, but it can be dangerous for drivers, too. According to the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety, bad weather conditions, slippery roads, and winter storms factor in nearly half a million crashes and over 2,000 road deaths every winter. To avoid becoming a part of these statistics, drivers should know how to drive in winter weather conditions to keep themselves and other drivers safe. We have compiled some helpful winter driving tips to keep you safe on the road. 

### Vehicle Safety Checklist 

Before we get into the winter driving safety tips, let's ensure your car is ready for winter driving first. 

__Below is a short vehicle safety checklist before braving winter driving conditions:__ 

- __Battery:__ When the temperature drops, so does your battery's power. Have your mechanic inspect your battery, belts, and charging system before the winter sets. Rather replace an old battery before it dies while you are driving in adverse conditions. 

- __Lights:__ Run through all the lights on your car regularly during the winter months. This includes the following: Brake lights, Headlights, Emergency lights, Interior lights, Turn signals

- __Cooling System:__ Ensure you regularly check your coolant levels in your vehicle. When topping up with coolant, make sure the coolant you use meets the manufacturer's specifications, as noted in your owner's manual. Regular servicing and maintenance with a mechanic will pick up any leaks and replace old coolant as needed. 

- __Windshield Wipers and Defrosters:__ In just a single snowstorm, you can go through a lot of windshield wiper fluid. Ensure your vehicle's reservoir is always topped up and full of high-quality "winter" windshield wiper fluid. 

  Another critical item to inspect before the winter weather settles     in is your windshield wipers and defrosters. Make sure they all work   both front and rear, and replace any worn wiper blades. 

- __Floor Mats:__ Something as simple as your floor mats can cause a car accident. Improperly installed mats can interfere with the operation of the accelerator or brake pedals, so ensure the manufacturer's instructions are carefully followed, and retention clips are used to secure your vehicle's floor mats. 

- __Tire Safety:__ As the temperatures drop, so does your car's tire pressure. Regardless of the season, check your tires monthly and before long road trips. Replace any worn or damaged tires immediately. If you plan on using specific snow tires, then have them installed correctly in the fall just before winter arrives. Snow tires have a snowflake symbol on them.

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### Stock Your Vehicle

Before winter conditions arrive, take inventory of the emergency items in your vehicle. 

__Stock your car with things that will handle everyday winter driving tasks, and ensure you have emergency supplies handy, such as:__ 

- A broom, ice scraper, and snow shovel.
- Abrasive material, such as kitty litter or sand, in case your car becomes trapped in the snow.
- Jumper cables, flashlight, and emergency warning devices, such as flares and markers. 
- Blankets for warmth and protection against the cold weather.
- A cell phone with a charger.
- A supply of water and food, as well as any necessary medication.

### General Winter Tips

Now that you know how to prepare your vehicle for winter driving and what emergency supplies to keep handy, let's get right into safe driving this winter with some helpful winter driving tips: 

- Don't warm up your car in an enclosed space (like a garage with the door closed) since that will cause carbon monoxide to build up and it could potentially leak into your house. 
- Stay Alert while driving.
- Keep your car's gas tank as close to full as possible. 
- Plan your travel properly and allow yourself enough time to stop and stretch at intervals.
- Stop to eat and rehydrate.
- Don't use cruise control on slippery or icy roads.
- Do not use your cell phone while driving. 
- Change drivers if you become too tired or feel the road conditions are too much for you to handle. 
- Do not consume alcohol or drugs before or during driving. 
- Obey the Rules of the Road: This one is not only seasonal for winter driving; you should always obey the road rules. That means avoiding risky driving behaviors and staying within the speed limit. Remember always to wear your seat belt--that goes for your passengers, too. 

### Tips for Driving on Snowy and Icy Roads

- __Stay home:__ Even if you can drive really well in bad weather, only go out if you need to. 

- __Clear the exhaust pipe:__ Before heading out onto winter roads, especially for long-distance trips, always ensure your exhaust pipe is not clogged with ice, mud, or snow. A blocked exhaust pipe is extremely dangerous because it can cause deadly carbon monoxide gas to leak into the car through the passenger compartment while the engine runs. 

- __Drive slowly:__ Snowy roads are slippery roads. Drive slowly to account for lower traction on snowy and icy roads.

- __Accelerate and decelerate slowly:__ Apply the gas slowly if you want to regain your traction on slippery roads and avoid skids. Remember, it takes longer to slow down on icy roads, so take extra time to slow down for a stoplight.

Increase your following and stopping distance: Increase your following distance to at least five to six seconds. The increased following and stopping distance give you plenty of time for emergency stops. 

- __Know your brakes:__ Whether your car has anti-lock brakes or not, always keep the heel of your foot on the floor and use the ball of your foot to apply pressure to the brake pedal.

- __Don't stop if you can avoid it:__ There is a significant difference in how much inertia it takes to move again from a complete stop versus moving forward while the car rolls. If you can slow down enough to keep the wheels turning slowly and avoid coming to a full stop on winter roads, then do it.

- __Don't add extra gas uphill:__ Your wheels will spin if you apply extra gas on snowy roads when going uphill. Instead, get a little inertia going before you reach the top of the hill and let that motion carry your vehicle. As you reach the top of the hill, slow down and go downhill without increasing your speed.

- __Don't stop while driving uphill:__ Stopping on icy roads when going uphill may have you sliding downhill. Get some inertia going on a flat road surface before heading uphill.

- __Watch for Snowplows:__ Don't travel alongside or crowd a snowplow. Snowplows are safer to drive behind than alongside because they make wide turns, travel slowly, overlap lanes, and stop frequently. If you find yourself traveling behind a snowplow, rather stay behind it or exercise extreme caution when passing.

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### Driving on Black Ice

Winter driving is more than just handling sleet, snow, and wet roads; ice on the road is a dangerous threat - especially black ice, which is transparent. Black ice typically develops at about freezing point and most commonly at night and when temperatures drop to their lowest. 

If you do hit black ice, do as little as possible and allow your car to pass over the ice. Do not hit your brake pedal, and try to keep your steering wheel as straight as possible. If you can, try to shift into a lower gear because this will give you more control. 

When driving on any icy roads - even regular ice - you should never be driving faster than 45mph in any vehicle, or on any roads, including highways.

#### Tips for Driving at Night

Limited visibility makes nighttime driving even more dangerous in the winter. 

__When driving at night during the winter months, always:__ 

- Clean your windshields and headlights. 
- Only use your high beams when absolutely necessary. 
- Be patient, drive slowly, and keep a safe stopping distance. 
- Stay alert and do not drive tired. 
- Be mindful of black ice, as mentioned above. 
- What to do in a Winter Emergency
- If you stop in cold winter conditions, follow the below safety tips: 
- Stay with your vehicle, and do not venture out into the cold. Do not overexert yourself. 
- Use your bright markers on the antenna or windows of your car and keep the interior lights on. 
- Do not run your car for long periods of time with the windows up to avoid asphyxiation. Ensure your exhaust pipe is clear before running the vehicle sporadically to keep warm. 
- Conserve your fuel.
- Keep your body warm. 

Winter driving is not only frightening for some drivers, but it is dangerous too. We share some winter driving tips to help you have a safe winter.

How to Drive Safely in the Winter

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