Keep Your Family Safer With These Winter Driving Tips

By Hardwick & Pendergast, P.S. on December 14, 2011

Winter driving is an adventure unlike any other, as many Washingtonians know. To help protect yourself and your family this season, keep the following safe winter driving tips in mind:

• Take care of your vehicle. A properly-maintained vehicle with weather-ready tires is safer to drive and won’t cause any sudden surprises in an emergency situation. Before you get in your car each day, clear any snow or ice completely from all windows, all lights, and the hood, roof, and other exposed areas. Flying snow from your vehicle might impair another driver’s vision, and no one on the road can see your lights if they’re buried under snow.
• Drive slow and easy. Slowing down is key to keeping control of your vehicle, especially in changing road conditions. If you’re driving in a storm, or if the road is dry in some places but treacherous in others, slowing down gives you the time and space you need to react to sudden changes. Also, leave extra space between your car and cars ahead of you or vehicles you are passing so that everyone has space to slow down if they start to slide.
• Know what equipment to use – and to avoid. Headlights can make you easier to see in all winter weather, so turn them on. Avoid using cruise control, however, since your vehicle may slide more easily. Finally, four-wheel drive may help you move, but it won’t help you stop – drive defensively and pay careful attention to the road.

If you or someone you love is injured on the roads this winter, the experienced Washington car accident injury attorneys at Hardwick & Pendergast, P.S. can help. For a free and confidential case evaluation, call us at (888) 228-3860.