Winter Driving Tips - How to Drive Safely on Snow and Ice-Covered Roads
Tuesday, January 28, 2025
When the temperature drops and bad weather arrives, road conditions quickly become unsafe. If inclement weather is forecast in your area, the best advice is to stay home.
However, for some who live farther north, driving in winter is a necessary part of daily life. So, for those times when you can’t avoid getting on the road, here are winter driving tips to get you there and back safely.
Before driving through a blizzard, you should always ensure that your car or truck is ready to handle the worst conditions.
Source: Reddit
Here’s a checklist of helpful advice you should read through before you get in your car or truck in winter.
Keep a Bundle of Supplies in Your Car
If you need to drive when the road conditions are poor, ensure you’re prepared. Have a stash of warm clothes, a flashlight, and some food within reach of the driver’s seat. It might sound extreme, but people from the north know that cold weather kills people.
Are you going to get trapped in your car? Probably not, but you could easily get stuck on the side of the road. Trust us, you’ll be glad you had the extra supplies if it happens to you!
Have the Right Tires
The first question to ask here is: “What kind of tires do you have?” All-weather tires can suit your needs if you live in an area that doesn’t regularly get a lot of snow.
However, for people who live in places with a six —or eight-month winter, having a dedicated set of winter tires is a must. They provide the extra traction that can prevent accidents.
Also, make sure you check your tire pressure! Keeping your snow tires properly inflated lets your tires get a more aggressive grip on the snow to increase traction.
Some conditions require you to put chains on your tires. Check out our article to learn how to put on tire chains.
Source: Ford F150 Forums
Top Off Your Tank
Not only does keeping a full gas tank keep your car running better, but it’s also a safety issue. Having that full tank will prevent you from getting stranded on the side of the road waiting for help.
Better yet, if you find yourself in a tight situation, you’ll have the extra gas to run your car and stay warm while you wait.
If you are running your car to stay warm, make sure your exhaust pipe is clear of snow. Carbon monoxide poisoning can be a very real danger!
Winter Driving Tips
In addition to our preparation tips, you should know your car's safety features. Knowing what your vehicle is capable of will help you determine whether you can survive that blizzard.
Knowing whether your car has anti-lock brakes, for instance, gives you an idea of its capabilities in winter conditions.
We might think that we need to make this trip through a blizzard. However, if you know your car cannot perform evasive maneuvers, you might think differently and wait for the weather to clear.
If you’ve lived in a place with snow your whole life, this might seem pretty obvious. If you’re new to a snowy area, though, it’s something you need to keep in mind! Your car or truck performs much differently on snow and ice than on the pavement.
Accelerate and decelerate slowly on icy roads. Hitting the gas like you’re taking off in a drag race will just spin your tires.
Also, never put your car on cruise control when the weather is bad. You need to stay alert and ready for anything.
Source: bygl.osu.edu
Increase Your Following Distance
We’ve all been on the road and had a tailgater that was too close for comfort. Tailgating is very dangerous even when the roads are clear and dry. It’s far more dangerous on icy roads. The necessary braking distance can increase by tenfold in icy conditions.
No matter how much traction and winter preparation you have, you can’t account for other drivers. Always stay on the side of safety and keep that following distance as far as possible.
If someone is on your backend, just pull over and let them pass. If they can’t be safe behind you, let them pass by.
Also, keep your foot close to the brake. Even if you have anti-lock brakes, you always want your foot ready to apply pressure to the pedal.
One of the most difficult parts of driving in the snow is actually getting your vehicle to stop and go. Once you’ve got the inertia behind you, it’s much easier to keep moving forward.
Don’t put yourself in a situation where you’re slamming on the brakes to come to a full stop.
Source: Reddit
Drive slowly! If you see a stoplight coming up, just slowly cruise toward it. The slower you’re going, the easier it will be to come to that full stop if you need it. If the light turns green before you get there, you won’t waste time and gas spinning your tires to get going, either.
Winter driving can be a tricky business. If you’ve never done it before, take a little time to practice in a parking lot. You want to know how your car reacts to snow, but it’s also important to know how you react to snow. Keep these driving tips in mind this winter, and keep yourself safe!
Be Prepared with Enthuze Winter Wheels
Preparing your car, truck, or SUV for winter is crucial to driving safely and confidently during the colder months. One simple way to improve your vehicle’s handling in snowy and icy conditions is to outfit it with Enthuze winter wheels.
Engineered for exceptional strength, these steel wheels are built to handle harsh winter conditions. Their heavier design increases friction between the tires and the road, reducing the likelihood of slipping and helping you maintain control on even the most challenging winter roads.
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