Winter weather often forces drivers to face dangerous road conditions no matter the ease of the trip or the common paths that are followed. From icy roads and snow-covered lanes to heavy wind and white-out conditions, drivers must make safety a priority no matter the trip.
New Jersey residents understand the hazards of winter weather and quickly changing conditions. Fortunately, there are tips drivers can follow that could potentially reduce deadly accidents, including:
- Keep your tires inflated: While this might seem like a common practice, drivers must pay careful attention to proper tire inflation when the weather turns frigid. Tires at the wrong pressure can lead to blowouts and loss of traction.
- Keep fluids topped off: While drivers often worry about gasoline and oil levels, they should carefully track other liquids such as windshield washer fluid. From snow melting across the vehicle’s windows to the dirty spray that comes up off the road, drivers often go through much more wiper fluid in the winter months than the rest of the year.
- Keep your eyes on the road: No matter the time of the year, drivers feel the urge to multitask while behind the wheel. Distractions can come in many forms from snacking and personal grooming to reading texts and manipulating a GPS menu. While it is always good advice to reduce distractions, doing so during the winter months can often prevent a deadly collision.
- Leave early: Winter weather does not make it easy for drivers to hurry to their destination. People should pay attention to the weather report, road conditions and other environmental factors when planning even the shortest of commutes. Giving yourself plenty of time cushion as well as an increased following distance can remove stress which often leads to speeding and reckless driving.
Drivers in winter weather can suffer quick loss of control and devastating motor vehicle collisions. Fortunately, there are certain tips that one can follow to reduce danger and help drivers avoid crashes.