Driving in the winter means snow, sleet and ice that can lead to slower traffic, hazardous road conditions and unforeseeable dangers. Meaning that additional emphasis should be placed on safe driving techniques to help prevent accidents from occurring.
According to the U.S. Department of Transportation, each year approximately 190,000 accidents occur due to icy pavements and 225,000 accidents occur due to snow and sleet each year. These figures add up to
27% of all weather-related accidents.
To help you make it safely through this winter, the National Safety Council has provided some valuable information to make sure that you and your vehicle are prepared this season.
The best advice for driving in bad winter weather is not to drive at all. However, if you must go out, wait until snowplows and sanding trucks have had a chance to do their work.
Other tips include:
- While driving, leave at least three times more space than usual between your car and vehicle ahead
- Brake gently to avoid skidding
- If your wheels start to lock up, ease off the brakes slowly
- Avoid using cruise control during harsh weather conditions
- Try not to pass snowplows and sanding trucks; the drivers have limited visibility, and the road ahead may be more difficult to drive on
- Be especially careful on bridges, overpasses and infrequently traveled roads, which will freeze over despite above-freezing temperatures
- It’s also advisable to carry a fully charged cell phone, a snow shovel, and a bag of cat litter, gravel or some similar substance in case a car becomes stuck in a snow bank
In such situations, the importance of auto insurance – to help cover the cost of repairs – is often highlighted while most tend to forget about the importance of life insurance, which can protect one’s family in the worst case scenario.
As life insurance premiums are at an industry all-time low, protecting one’s family from the unexpected is more affordable than ever. Contact your insurance adviser for information regarding a life insurance policy.