Winter snowstorms in New Jersey are far too common. Despite how common they may be, many people are not prepared to drive in bad weather. When someone is not prepared for winter driving, they can cause car accidents that result in catastrophic injuries or death. To avoid making the mistake of being unprepared for bad weather, here are five tips you can follow to stay safe this winter:
Change your tires
Not all tires are capable of handling snow and ice on the roads. During the time of year when stopping your car on short notice is more important than ever, you want to give yourself and your car every advantage to do so. If your tires have become bald or are not winter tires, make sure you get a new set of winter tires to help you when you need them most.
Use your headlights
Even during the day, headlights can save lives in the winter. While headlights allow you to see in low-visibility environments, they also alert other drivers to your position. When it is snowing or overcast outside, headlights can make the difference in whether someone avoids hitting you head-on.
Give drivers space
Snow and ice on the road mean that it takes more time to come to a complete stop. Even if you have new winter tires, you should still double the distance you normally put between you and another driver. The extra difference can keep you from being a part of a massive pile-up on the freeway.
Slow down
Going too fast on winter roads can reduce your ability to safely stop, but also your ability to avoid an accident or react to a danger on the road. Even going the speed limit in dangerous conditions can be too fast, so be sure you are giving yourself the edge you need to stay safe.
Do not take your safety for granted
No matter how much experience you have driving in bad weather, you can still get into a life-changing accident. Before setting off into a snowstorm, make sure you exercise extra precaution to see that you get to your destination safely.