The occasional snowflakes and ice crusts in the morning give us all the indications that winter is coming soon and brings new topics to discuss. The first snowfalls can turn out to be quite a surprise to an unsuspecting driver and even bring traffic to a halt in densely populated cities across the country. In late autumn it usually snows during the day, freezes at night, and as a result the roads become slippery with ice. In this way, the number of car accidents grows as it gets colder and colder. As a general rule, minor accidents occur twice as often in winter. More attention should be paid to safety on municipal roads when drivers are faced with factors such as snow, ice, sleet, mud, and even dense fog. Of course, the most dangerous time of the day is rush hour, when everyone is trying to sneak in and out, which is not an option on a slippery road. It’s much easier to get into trouble when the wheels don’t have enough friction to stop the car. However, the biggest challenge in freezing weather is getting out of town. Snowdrifts block even wide roads and driving through the countryside may be the last thing you want to do. It gets even worse when the roads get wet and muddy during the thaw period.
Winter is a dangerous season for most northern states, such as Maryland, Maine, Montana, Colorado, Minnesota, North Dakota, Idaho, Wyoming, and Michigan. The southern states are less affected by winter weather; however, the rare snowfall is more anxiety-inducing than in states that are more prepared for it. Statistical data from 2007-2008 shows that the number of auto accidents in the US increased by approximately 46% from mid-October to the end of April, meaning that there were a large number of auto accidents during the cold months.
Here are some helpful tips for safe and enjoyable winter driving. It is important to drive slowly and choose the appropriate speed that allows you to control the situation. It becomes much more difficult to drive a car at a speed of 35 mph on an icy road. Use special tires or tire chains to provide more friction to the wheels. You should always make sure that the car is tuned and in good shape because the chance of failure of any car part also increases in poor driving conditions. If you lose control of the car, take your foot off the accelerator, lightly apply the brakes, and steer in the direction you’re sliding until you gain control.
However, none of the precautions can guarantee safety when there are other car drivers who might get caught in an unfortunate situation on winter roads. In this regard, the wisest decision before even starting your car would be to make sure that you have the proper car insurance. Car insurance is an essential element that helps prevent car owners from having excessive expenses related to icy road conditions. Since accidents happen quite often in winter, try to get the best auto insurance deals for everyone in the family who drives a car before winter hits so you don’t have to overpay later. or that you do not have enough insurance in case of an accident.