Know The Winter Road Conditions Before You Drive

Terrible winter road conditions won’t only threaten your long trip ― they could sabotage your daily drive to work or school as well.

The time to realize you should be hunkered down at home is not after you’ve already merged onto the ice-covered highway. Make safety a priority by staying aware of all changing winter road conditions before you get behind the wheel.

Dangers of Driving in Ice and Snow

According to the U.S. Department of Transportation, 22 percent of all vehicle crashes over a 10-year period, from 2004 to 2013, occurred under bad road conditions. From wet, slick pavement to icy buildup, it’s a proven fact that weather has a definite impact on vehicle handling. Nineteen percent of all crash injuries and 16 percent of all crash fatalities were related to weather conditions.

Call the State Line

The first step to take in protecting yourself is getting informed about the current winter road conditions, but how?

States manage the de-icing and plowing of all roadways, so it is best to call your state’s department of transportation to find out whether it is safe to travel on your normal route. In Utah, residents need only dial 511 to hear an automated voice message detailing the state of the roadways. This line is continually updated as conditions change.

Check the Department of Transportation Website

Many states also have a department of transportation website that has 24/7 coverage of the clearing progress. In some cases, you might be able to download an app to your smartphone and get alerts, but it depends on the specific state in which you live.

Follow Sensible Safety Guidelines

You might be an expert at driving on snow-covered roads, but you might be the only one. You can’t trust that other drivers have the same driving skills as you. If you don’t have to go anywhere, don’t. Stay home until the roads are cleared and travel bans are lifted.

When you are required to drive on icy roads, never use cruise control. And always keep tires fully inflated for best performance. Stay well below the speed limit and make sure to always buckle your seat belt. You will have to stay on high alert the entire trip, so never brave bad weather if you are exhausted.

What About Long-Distance Road Trips?

Sometimes a weather system might come from nowhere, especially if you are driving a long distance. If the snow piles up on the roadway and you have to pull over, don’t abandon your car — you could get lost in the storm. Stay put until help arrives.

Only get out of your car to clear snow away from the exhaust pipe, ensuring you don’t become the victim of carbon monoxide poisoning.

For towing in all types of winter road conditions, call the team at Stauffer’s Towing and get immediate assistance.