How To Drive Safely During Dangerous Winter Conditions

Driving can become more dangerous in winter conditions, as drivers need to contend with weather that obstructs visibility, icy roads and additional vehicle maintenance. It’s best to stay home to avoid bad weather, but if you have to venture out onto the roads, ensure your car is working correctly, you have packed an emergency kit and you have purchased enough insurance coverage.

Keep reading to learn essential winter driving tips for navigating icy roads safely, from vehicle preparation to understanding insurance coverage.

On This Page

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  How To Drive Safely This Winter

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  1. Stay Home if Possible

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  2. Check the Weather Forecast Before Going Out

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  3. Pack a Winter Emergency Kit

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  4. Ensure Your Car Is Good To Go

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  5. Wait for Weather Conditions To Clear

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  6. Be Extra Aware for Pedestrians

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  7. Drive Cautiously

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  8. Minimize Distractions

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  9. Update Your Insurance Coverage

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  10. Ensure You Have the Right Identification and Documents

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  11. Avoid Driving at Night

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  12. Consider Signing Up for Roadside Assistance

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  What Type of Car Accidents Are Most Common During the Winter?

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  Why Is It So Important To Drive Cautiously in Winter Weather?

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  How To Get Car Insurance Coverage for a Winter Road Trip

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  FAQs

How To Drive Safely This Winter

Navigating winter roads requires a blend of vehicle preparedness and adaptive driving techniques. Below, we’ll discuss essential winter driving tips to inspire safety and confidence while you drive in cold, often challenging conditions.

1. Stay Home if Possible

For those residing in regions frequently battered by intense snowstorms, staying alert for treacherous roads, hidden ice patches and unpredictable conditions is critical. In such scenarios, the safest decision is often to remain indoors. Venturing out not only puts you at risk but also adds to the challenges faced by emergency and road-clearing services.

2. Check the Weather Forecast Before Going Out

A glance at the forecast can reveal potential road hazards, such as snowfall, freezing rain or fog. Being aware of these conditions allows you to adjust your travel plans, take alternative routes or even postpone your journey if necessary. For example, if you commute to work and see heavy rain expected in two days, you may want to see if you can work remotely that day.

3. Pack a Winter Emergency Kit

When temperatures drop and roads become treacherous, your car needs to be equipped to handle these changes. However, breakdowns can still occur even with proper maintenance, so it's wise to keep an emergency kit in your car. Essential supplies you’ll want to add to your kit include:^[1]

• Flashlight with extra batteries
• First aid kit
• Snow shovel
• Ice scraper and/or snow brush
• Blankets and sleeping bags
• Non-perishable food
• Bottled water
• Booster cables
• Extra clothing
• Sand or kitty litter to help your car regain traction if it becomes stuck
• Charged portable battery for your phone
• Flares
• Traffic cones
• Spare tire

4. Ensure Your Car Is Good To Go

Cold temperatures can be taxing on your car, affecting everything from the battery's performance to the tire pressure.

• Tire chains: It’s a good idea to put on tire chains when driving over snow-covered roads to prevent losing traction. When installed, don’t drive faster than 30 miles per hour, which could reduce the chains' effectiveness or cause them to snap off and potentially damage your tires.^[2]
• Battery: Cold weather can reduce your car battery's capacity by about 20% when the outside temperature is between 0 and 32 degrees Fahrenheit.^[3] If you need to drive during or shortly after freezing temperatures, check your battery's capacity to avoid getting stuck on the road.
• Tire pressure: Ensure your tires are properly inflated, as colder temperatures can cause the air in tires to become denser and decrease in pressure.^[4]
• Underbody: Roads are regularly salted to help ice melt and prevent slipping, but chemicals and other debris can cling to the car’s underbody, leading to rust and damaging fuel lines and brakes.^[5] Ensure you clean your vehicle's underbody, whether you do it yourself or hire a professional.
• Headlights: Cold temperatures can cause condensation to build up in your headlights, reducing visibility and potentially leading to long-term electrical damage. Ensure any moisture is removed as soon as possible and check that the seals on your headlights remain airtight.^[6]
• Brakes: Check that your brakes are responsive and your brake fluid is at the recommended level.
• Windshield wipers: Your wipers should be free from damage and ready to clear away snow or sleet. Consider getting winter wiper blades with an extra rubber layer to clear snow or ice from your windshield, and refill your windshield wiper fluid if necessary.
• Heating system: Ensure your car's heating system is functioning efficiently, not just for comfort, but also to defrost and increase visibility.
• Safety features: Familiarize yourself with your vehicle’s safety features, such as anti-lock brakes, traction control and four-wheel drive. You should understand how they work, as each can be beneficial in different winter conditions.

5. Wait for Weather Conditions To Clear

If you are caught in a snowstorm, heavy fog or freezing rain, it may be best to delay your journey. These conditions can drastically reduce visibility, make roads slippery and increase the chances of accidents. Instead of risking it, consider waiting a few hours, overnight or until local news or weather apps indicate the weather is improving.

If you're already on the road when bad weather hits, consider pulling over safely and waiting it out or seeking shelter in a nearby establishment.

Some states have designated rest stops where you can sleep in your car. No appointment or destination is worth compromising your or others' safety on the road.

6. Be Extra Aware for Pedestrians

During winter, snowfall and icy conditions can diminish road visibility and make it hard to see pedestrians. Snowbanks can physically obstruct pedestrians and the glare from ice can blind drivers.

Slippery sidewalks might force pedestrians onto roads and shorter daylight hours mean more people are out during dusk or dawn when visibility is compromised. Be especially vigilant driving from 6 p.m. to 8:59 p.m., which is when over 34% of pedestrian fatalities occurred during the winter of 2023.^[7]

7. Drive Cautiously

Nearly one-quarter of weather-related vehicle crashes occur on pavement slick from snow, slush or ice.^[8] As a result, winter roads demand heightened awareness and a more deliberate driving approach. Here are additional tips you can follow for a safe winter driving experience:

• Slow down: Even if you're driving on a clear road, black ice can lurk invisibly and catch you off guard. Reducing your speed gives you more time to react to unexpected hazards.
• Increase your following distance: In icy or snowy conditions, stopping distances should be longer. Instead of the usual three-second rule, aim for an eight to 10 second gap between you and the vehicle in front to give you ample time to stop safely if needed.^[9]
• Accelerate and decelerate slowly: Rapid speed changes can cause your vehicle to skid. Apply the gas slowly to gain traction when starting from a stop and take your foot off the accelerator gradually when decelerating.
• Don’t use cruise control: While it's a great feature for long drives on clear roads, it's not suitable for slippery conditions. It can make it harder for you to adjust your speed quickly in response to changing road conditions.
• Watch for kids: Children playing near roads, building snowmen or sledding may be inattentive to oncoming vehicles. Be especially vigilant in residential areas near schools and parks.

8. Minimize Distractions

Distracted driving is dangerous year-round, especially in winter. Whether it's a buzzing phone, texting, an intricate in-car entertainment system, lively passengers or eating, minimizing these distractions is essential. By ensuring your focus remains solely on the road, you can enhance your reaction time, making split-second decisions more accurate and reducing the risk of accidents.

9. Update Your Insurance Coverage

Winter can bring a host of potential hazards, from hailstorms to slippery roads. If you currently have only liability insurance, know that this will not cover physical damage to your vehicle from events like hail or if you're at fault in a collision.

To ensure you're protected against winter accidents, consider adding comprehensive and collision coverage to your policy. Comprehensive coverage protects against damage from natural events like hail, while collision coverage covers repairs or replacement costs if your vehicle is damaged in an accident. Fortunately, if you’re still paying off or leasing your car, you may already have these coverages in your policy.

10. Ensure You Have the Right Identification and Documents

Venturing out on winter roads requires more than just vehicular preparedness; it's equally crucial to be equipped with the proper documentation. Whether it's a routine traffic stop or an unforeseen incident, having immediate access to your driver's license, vehicle registration and proof of car insurance can make interactions smoother and more efficient. These documents not only validate your driving credentials but also provide essential information in case of emergencies or accidents.

11. Avoid Driving at Night

Nighttime brings reduced visibility, making it harder to spot ice patches, snowbanks or other potential hazards on the road. The glare from oncoming headlights can also be intensified on wet or icy surfaces, momentarily blinding drivers. Additionally, fatigue often sets in after a long day, slowing your reaction times and impairing your judgment at night.

By choosing to travel during daylight hours, you benefit from better visibility, increased alertness and the added advantage of being able to spot potential issues with your vehicle or the road ahead.

12. Consider Signing Up for Roadside Assistance

Whether it's a sudden breakdown, a flat tire or getting stuck in a snowdrift, these situations can be daunting, especially in cold, isolated conditions. Signing up for a reputable roadside assistance program can provide a safety net when you’re stranded in dangerous winter weather conditions. These services offer prompt help, such as towing your car, jump-starting a battery or even delivering emergency fuel.

What Type of Car Accidents Are Most Common During the Winter?

Winter's icy grip brings unique challenges for drivers, leading to specific types of accidents that are more prevalent during colder months. Recognizing these common mishaps can help drivers be more vigilant and prepared:

• Rear-end collisions: Slippery roads increase stopping distances. Drivers who don't account for this often find themselves unable to stop in time, leading to rear-end collisions.
• Slide-into accidents: Icy conditions, especially at intersections or on turns, can cause vehicles to slide into utility poles, guardrails or other stationary objects.
• Multi-vehicle pile-ups: Reduced visibility due to snow or fog, combined with slippery roads, can lead to chain-reaction crashes involving multiple vehicles.
• Single-car spin-outs: Black ice, often invisible to drivers, can cause vehicles to lose control and spin out, especially on highways or at higher speeds.
• Side-impact collisions: Intersections become particularly hazardous in winter. Drivers who run stop signs or red lights can cause T-bone or side-impact crashes.
• Vehicle rollovers: Slippery conditions and sudden maneuvers can make vehicles, especially taller ones like SUVs, unstable and prone to rolling over.
• Pedestrian accidents: Snowbanks and reduced daylight hours can reduce visibility, increasing the risk that drivers will miss pedestrians. Additionally, slippery sidewalks might force pedestrians to walk on roads.

Why Is It So Important To Drive Cautiously in Winter Weather?

The combination of snow, ice, sleet and reduced visibility during winter can transform even familiar roads into unpredictable terrains. Driving cautiously becomes paramount, not just for the driver's safety but for everyone on the road (and sidewalks).

Icy conditions can significantly extend stopping distances, making sudden braking or sharp turns risky. Reduced visibility means hazards can appear with little warning. Furthermore, winter conditions can be deceiving; what appears to be a wet road might be a sheet of black ice.

By driving more cautiously, motorists can better react to unforeseen obstacles, reduce the risk of accidents and ensure a safer environment for all road users.

How To Get Car Insurance Coverage for a Winter Road Trip

Embarking on a winter road trip can be an exhilarating adventure, but ensuring your vehicle is adequately insured before hitting the snow-covered roads is essential. Here's a step-by-step guide to securing the right coverage:

• Consider buying additional coverage: If you recently purchased your car, you may already have comprehensive and collision coverage, which will insure your car against several types of physical damage. However, if you have a liability-only policy, know that your car’s damages may not be covered in a collision or if it was caused by hail or other weather events.
• Check if you have roadside assistance: Many insurance providers offer roadside assistance as an add-on to cover you in case of a breakdown. This service can be invaluable, providing towing, jump-starts or emergency fuel delivery.
• Inquire about rental reimbursement: If your car is in the shop following a winter-related mishap, rental car reimbursement can cover the cost of a temporary replacement vehicle.
• Update your policy for international travel: If you’re driving outside the country, your auto policy may cover you in Canada but not in Mexico. However, your carrier may offer Mexico tourist auto insurance.^[10][11]
• Shop around: Rates and coverages can vary widely between providers. It's worth getting a few car insurance quotes to ensure you get the best deal for your coverage.
• Inform your provider: Before your trip, inform your insurance provider about your travel plans. They may offer specific recommendations or even temporary coverage enhancements.