Winter is upon us with fresh snow in the mountains and the passes already driving like it’s January. In contrast with the other 3 seasons, winter includes snow, ice, freezing rain, and long nights. If you aren’t accustomed to driving in these conditions, it can be very dangerous or even deadly.
For professional winter driving tips, I asked CHS driver’s ed instructor, Steele Sykes. His experience as a driving instructor adds to his cred when it comes to providing winter driving tips. When asked what an easy change drivers could make to reduce a high percentage of wrecks, he replied, “Slow down and leave more space between other cars!”
He also stresses an overlooked aspect of winter driving is the essentials you carry in your vehicle. De-icer in your windshield washer fluid, a full tank of gas when going over the mountains and carrying and knowing how to put on tire chains. The time to learn tire chain installation is at home in your driveway or warm garage rather than on the shoulder of a busy highway during a snowstorm. This provides the opportunity to practice and figure out the technique without being under any pressure. The same rule applies for learning to change a tire.
Another overlooked item is cruise control on snowy or icy roads. Sykes said that he will never use cruise control on icy roads, because cruise control in these conditions can cause your vehicle to lose traction or spin out. When you are driving with your foot on the accelerator and see brake lights in front of you, you instinctively let your foot off the gas, slowing down. When using cruise control, you have to apply the brakes to slow the vehicle, which could cause you to go into a skid and crash into someone.
All in all, knowing exactly what to do in different winter driving situations can be incredibly important and can save you lots of money and even lives.
