Winter is upon us, and while we are busy preparing our homes for this frigid season, we can’t forget to prepare our cars as well. Winter brings inclement weather and the potential for hazardous road conditions. The roads are especially dangerous at the start of winter as most drivers are out of practice and need time to adjust to driving in these conditions. We’ve rounded up a few winter driving safety tips to refresh your memory and prepare yourself and your vehicle for the upcoming season.

Preparing Your Vehicle

Putting together a winter survival kit to keep in your car is a great way to prepare for multiple situations. The best part about this is that most of these items you probably already have in your garage! We put together a quick DIY winter survival kit checklist for your vehicle. Other ways to prepare your vehicle include ensuring your tires and windshield wipers are functioning properly prior to the start of inclement weather.

Always Watch the Weather

This may seem like a no brainer, but it’s critical to watch the weather each day, especially if you have plans to travel. Tune in to the radio or news to get reports about accidents and any concerning road conditions.

Keep Your Gas Tank Full

Don’t wait for your gas light to come on to fill up—make a habit this winter to continuously keep your gas tank full. This is helpful when running your car before you drive to warm up, and most importantly, will keep you warm inside your car if you get stuck or stranded.

Consider These Safe Driving Habits During Inclement Winter Weather:

• Make sure your car is completely clear of snow & ice before driving.
• Drive with your headlights during winter weather conditions. If the weather makes the road less visible, drive with your flashers to ensure you are seen by other drivers.
• Reduce your speed. Remember: speed limits were created for dry roads, not icy or wet roads.
• Increase following distance—stay a little further behind the car in front of you than you would on a dry road.
• Ice is more likely to form at intersections, bridges and shaded areas when temperatures drop below freezing. Always turn and break carefully!
• Don’t use cruise control during cold, wet or icy conditions—you need as much control over your vehicle as possible when driving in inclement weather.