Get Road Ready for the Winter

Winter weather can cause incredibly hazardous conditions on the road. When visibility deteriorates and ice makes surfaces slippery, drivers must be extra cautious so they can reach their destination and return home safely.

Are you constantly on the road to attend meetings, visit clients, deliver goods, or fulfill other job responsibilities? Either way, these strategies can help you stay safe during the winter months.

Prevent Breakdowns and Flats

First of all, make sure your tires are ready for winter weather. In the fall, inspect your tire treads and replace them if needed. Rotate the tires. These strategies will help you maintain traction on slippery roads when bad weather comes.

Cold weather can make your tire pressure decline more quickly than during warmer months. Check your tire pressure regularly and inflate them to the recommended pounds per square inch (PSI). Read more Tips to Prevent Flat Tires.

Also have a knowledgeable professional check under the hood. Confirm that all belts and hoses are in good condition. Check the health of the battery. Refill your windshield wiper fluid.

Stock Up

Prepare a winter car care and emergency kit that you keep in your vehicle. This should include a windshield scraper and shovel to take care of snow and ice. Additionally, keep a spare tire and the tools to install it on hand.

Play It Safe

If you can, avoid driving during hazardous weather conditions. If this is not possible, allow yourself extra time to travel.

Slow down! Make minor, gradual changes in speed, and avoid rapid accelerations or stops. Keep in mind that you need up to four times more distance to stop during bad weather than you would in ideal conditions — and this distance may be greater if you are pulling a trailer.

If visibility is poor, turn on your hazards and headlights.

Don’t hesitate to pull over and wait for conditions to improve. If you need to stop, keep your vehicle running with hazard and headlights on. Pull as far over into the shoulder as you can to reduce the chance that someone hits you while you are parked.

Know How to Respond

If you find yourself in a slippery situation, know what to do:

• If there is an animal in the road:
  Slow down and use your horn. One long blast of the horn can scare the animal away. Do not swerve to avoid the animal. Swerving into another lane could cause a serious accident. Learn more about avoiding deer accidents.

• During inclement weather:
  Drive in the tracks of the car in front of you. The car will displace water on the road, giving your car a better chance at keeping traction. Do not use cruise control during rain or snow. Execute slow, smooth brakes and wide, controlled turns.

• If the roads are wet or icy:
  Leave more room to slow down and stop. If you are towing a trailer, you could need up to four times more space to stop than you normally would. Avoid sharp turns. Oversteering could cause your vehicle to skid. If you skid, remove your foot from the gas pedal and steer the vehicle in the direction you want to go until you regain control.

• If your tires are spinning and cannot gain traction:
  Place items, like wood, under the powered tires. Gradually press the gas to get your car up onto the makeshift platform and over the ice, mud, or other barrier. Once you are out of the hole, you should be able to drive.

• If you hydroplane:
  Remove your foot from the gas pedal. Turn your wheel in the direction you are hydroplaning. Wait until you feel the tires reconnect with the road surface.

One benefit of an NJM Business Insurance policy is 24/7 access to loss prevention training videos in English and Spanish, including topics relating to commercial driving. To learn more about NJM Insurance, find an agent.