Winter weather driving tips

By Ashley Tammen, 
KDOT Public Affairs Manager for north central Kansas

It’s snowing outside as you put on your shoes to go scrape off your car and head to work. You decide to warm up your car first and are not worried about driving in the snow because it’s just a car and you know how to drive one of those. But do you know how to drive  during inclement weather? Driving in these conditions can be quite challenging for travel due to slippery snow or ice. Poor traction may make your vehicle harder to control. It is important to review how to drive safely in the winter, especially if it’s the first snow of the year or you are new to driving. Here are some winter driving tips recommended by AAA Club Alliance:

• Make certain your tires are properly inflated.
• Never mix radial tires with other tire types.
• Keep your gas tank at least half full to avoid gas line freeze-up.
• If possible, avoid using your parking brake in cold, rainy and snowy weather.
• Do not use cruise control when driving on a slippery surface).
• Watch weather reports prior to a long-distance drive or before driving in isolated areas. Delay trips when especially bad weather is expected. If you must leave, let others know your route, destination and estimated time of arrival.
• Make sure the exhaust pipe isn’t clogged with snow, ice or mud. A blocked exhaust could cause deadly carbon monoxide gas to leak into the passenger compartment with the engine running.
• Accelerate and decelerate slowly. Applying the gas slowly to accelerate is the best method for regaining traction and avoiding skids. Don’t try to get moving in a hurry. And take time to slow down for a stoplight. Remember: It takes longer to slow down on icy roads.
• The normal dry pavement following distance of three to four seconds should be increased to eight to 10 seconds. This increased margin of safety will provide the longer distance needed if you have to stop.
• The best way to stop is threshold breaking.  To do this, keep the heel of your foot on the floor and use the ball of your foot to apply firm, steady pressure on the brake pedal.
• Don’t stop going up a hill. There’s nothing worse than trying to get moving up a hill on an icy road. Get some speed going on a flat roadway before you take on the hill.

For more winter driving tips visit: https://exchange.aaa.com/safety/driving-advice/winter-driving-tips/

Travel safe this winter and visit www.kandrive.org for up to date travel conditions.