According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, these tips can help make sure you arrive safely at your destination if you cannot avoid driving in winter weather.
- Slow down. It’s harder to control or stop your vehicle on a slick or snow-covered surface.
- Increase the distance between you and the car in front of your vehicle. This will make sure you have adequate room to stop.
- Don’t crowd a snow plow or travel beside it. Snow plows travel slowly, make wide turns, stop often, overlap lanes, and exit the road frequently. However, the road behind an active snow plow is safer to drive on. If you find yourself behind a snow plow, stay behind it or use caution when passing.
- If you are stopped or stalled in wintry weather, follow these safety rules:
- Stay with your car and don’t overexert yourself.
- Put bright markers on the antenna or windows and keep the interior dome light turned on.
- To avoid asphyxiation from carbon monoxide poisoning, don’t run your car for long periods of time with the windows up or in an enclosed space. If you must run your vehicle, clear the exhaust pipe of any snow and run it only sporadically — just long enough to stay warm.