9 Winter Driving Safety Tips

Tips for how to make Winter Driving safe for you and your employees

Safe driving begins long before a driver gets behind the wheel of a car. This is true in Winter as well as any other time of year. It is especially important when it comes to the Winter Driving Season. The Winter Driving Season is especially dangerous because of the conditions presented out on the roads and the presence of ice. Preparing for these risky conditions occurs before, during, and after getting behind the wheel. Here are nine Winter Driving Tips to help you, your family, and your employees safe out on the roads for the rest of this Winter.

Winter Driving on Snow and Ice

Before Winter Driving

Prepare your car

Safety when it comes to Winter Driving begins long before a person gets behind the wheel. Preparing your car in the Fall before the weather turns bad is a good idea to prepare for a saving Winter Driving Season.

Check under the hood

When you have an oil change during the Fall and Winter, it is important to have the mechanic looking under the hood to check to make sure your car is prepared for the Temperatures the car is facing. It is important to ask them double check the levels of your cars antifreeze, the hoses, the heater, the defroster, windshield wipers, the washer fluid, the lights, and the battery.

Stock a Winter Weather Survival Kit

Stocking your car with a Winter Weather Survival Kit is a great idea to prepare yourself for the unfortunate event that you are stuck in your car for an extended period of time. What is included in the kit depends upon how extreme the weather is where you live. No matter where you live the kit should include: blankets, gloves, socks and a hat. Also included should be an ice scraper, a flashlight, jumper cables, water, snacks and road flares or reflective warning triangles. Additionally, you should consider adding kitty lidder or a bag of sand to help with traction, tire chains, hand warmers, and duct tape because every situation runs a tad bit smoother with duct tape.

During Winter Driving

Slow Down

When behind the wheel, it is important to slow down and increase space when driving. Many people make the mistake of thinking a four wheel drive vehicle allows them to drive faster at a normal speed during Winter Conditions. This is a mistake far too many drivers make in Winter. The only way to safely drive on ice is to take your time and give yourself plenty of room between other vehicles.

Dont panic

If you do start to slip on ice while driving, it is best to let your foot off of the excelerator in order to slow down as opposed to slamming on the brakes. Remember to steer in the direction you want to go. Steering may be more important than braking in some conditions.

Be conscious of the three main types of distractions

There are three types of distracted driving: Cognitive, Manual, and Visual. A cognitive distraction deals with a drivers cognitive ability to pay attention to the task of driving. A manual distraction is anything that causes a driver to take one or both hands off of the steering wheel. Finally, a visual distraction is anything visually appealing that takes the drivers view away from the task of driving the car.

After Winter Driving

After an accident, contact the carrier quickly

It is important to contact your insurance carrier quickly after an accident. First and foremost, you need to take care of the health and well-being of anyone involved in an accident. Once everyones safety is accounted for it is important to give the insurance carrier a call. It is important to realize that this part of the insurance process is the responsibility of the carrier and not the insurance agent. It is a good idea to keep the agency in the loop, but do not be surprised and do not become upset when they direct you to call the carrier. This is how the insurance process works.

Take photos

If you have a mobile device with the ability to take and save pictures, it is important to take pictures of your damaged vehicle and of any other vehicles involved in the accident.

Keep Receipts

Damages may be reimbursed for repairs to your car, but the insurance carrier is going to require receipts for anything you purchase related to the repair of your vehicle. This is why it is important to call the insurance carrier quickly. The carrier can guide you through the insurance claims process and help prevent any unnecessary spending on your part.

Slips, Trips, and Falls on Ice

Tips to prevent you, your family, and your employees from slips,trips,and falls on ice this Winter

During the Winter Months, there is an increased risk of slips, trips, and falls on ice due to the Winter Weather. This can cause injury to you in your personal life around your house and in your business life with your employees. There are several steps you and your business can take to limit the risk of injury during the Winter Months.

During a Winter Storm it is important to get ahead to prevent slips, trips and falls on ice.

Be aware of your surroundings

Paying attention to the surface you are walking on can go a long way towards preventing slips, trips, and falls on ice.

Select appropriate footwear

This goes for men and women both. In the Winter, especially when a snow or ice storm hits, is not the best time to wear footwear that is not suitable to slippery conditions. In most all scenarios, the people you are interacting with are dealing with the same conditions as you and will understand if the footwear you are wearing is not your Sunday best.

Get an earlier start to your destination

The only way to prevent slipping on ice is to go slow. This goes for walking around your house as well as out in your vehicle. The best way to get to your destination safely is to give yourself adequate time to take the proper precautions due to the weather.

Keeping the proper equipment around can help you prevent slips, trips, and falls on ice.

Keep Proper Equipment around to deal with Snow and Ice

Buying a good shovel is only the beginning of dealing with Winter Weather. Storing the proper type of salt for the sidewalks can prevent slips, trips, and falls on ice. There are specific rakes that can help you remove snow and ice from the roof of your property. Depending upon the area in which you live, you may need some or all of these pieces of equipment.

Be extremely careful getting out of your vehicle

Getting out of your vehicle is the one time when you are moving from a controlled environment into inclement weather. It may take a few steps for you to get accustomed to just how bad the conditions are. Use extra caution at these moments to ensure you arrive at your destination safely.

Don’t take shortcuts

It is important to always use sidewalks, the cleared paths and other designated walking areas on the streets and in parking lots when the weather is treacherous.

Watch for slippery floors when entering buildings

Once you have made it to your destination, it is still important to keep aware of your surrounding. Many people clean off their shoes as soon as they get in to the building. It is common for this area to become wet and cause additional slipping hazards.

Slips, Trips, and Falls on ice can be treacherous during the Winter Months.

Winter Driving Safety Tips

This Winter has been a colder then average year for a majority of the country. When the temperatures plummet life keeps churning along. For this reason, many people are forced to get out and driving in dangerous conditions in order to get to work. Here are several tips to help you get to where your going safe and sound.

Preparing Your Vehicle

Stocking your car with a Winter Weather Survival Kit is a great idea to prepare yourself for the unfortunate event that you are stuck in your car for an extended period of time. Additionally you should have proper maintenance done to prepare your vehicle for the colder months. Much of the maintenance that needs to be done depends upon the area in which you live and how cold it actually gets. Additional antifreeze is needed in many parts of the country as well as keeping chains available for when ice is on the roads.

Watching the Weather

Keeping an eye on the weather forecast is important during the Winter Months. Most snow and Winter Weather Storms are known a few days in advance. If you are at work and you know a storm is coming in at 5:00 PM. It might be a good day to leave the office at 3:00 PM. Keeping an eye on the weather can help you be prepared when the conditions are less than ideal.

Drive Slowly

The only way to drive safely on ice is to go slow. Four wheel drive will help you get out when you are stuck in the ditch, but it will not make your brakes miraculously work when you hit a patch of black ice. When you do hit ice it will only mean you have four tires slipping instead of two. Driving slowly and giving yourself plenty of distance is always the best way to drive when you are dealing with snow and ice.

Breaking Down or Getting Stuck

Having a Winter Safety Kit in your car is the first step to dealing with a situation where you are stuck on the roads when the temperatures are cold. Many sporting goods stores have many of the supplies you may need to keep handy. An emergency sleeping bag or at least a blanket should be available. Some snacks and bottled water are a good idea as well.

Stay Home

The best way to prevent having to use any of these tips is to stay off the roads and do not drive unless you absolutely have to.

Winter Weather Preparation

Tips to Protect your Car, Home, or Business during the Winter Months

Winter weather can bring extreme conditions that can have adverse impacts on your car, home, or business. It does not have to take an enormous amount of time and effort to be prepared for the colder weather. Here are several tips to help you prepare your car, home, and small business for the Winter Weather Season.

Car

Tires – Make sure to check the tread on your tires and ensure they are inflated to the correct PSI for the conditions of your area.
Anti-Freeze – Make sure to correctly mix the anti-freeze properly for the conditions you will face in your area. If you are not certain how to do this, it is always best to have this done by a trained professional.
Gas Tank – Make a habit to keep more than a half a tank of gas in your car at all times during the cold months of the year. If you do get stuck somewhere for an extended period, it may mean the difference between a small inconvenience, a trip tot he hospital, or something worse.
Keep a safe driving distance – When you have to be out driving in snowy or icy conditions, the only way to do this safely is to go slow and give yourself room. Even if your vehicle has four wheel drive, in most cases this only helps a vehicle to get out of a situation where they are stuck. It will not prevent you from slipping on ice. Make sure to go very slow and keep more than adequate room between yourself and other vehicles.

Man Shoveling Snow at his house after a Winter Weather Storm.

Home

Have your Furnace inspected yearly – It is best to do this early in the year. That way you are not tempted to turn on the heat when you unexpectedly get the first bit of Winter Weather.
Have someone check on your Chimney before using it – Just like with your furnace, it is best to have your chimney checked early in the season. That way you are not tempted to go ahead and make a fire for the kids the first time it dips a little cold in the Fall.
Be safe with Christmas Lights – Everyone loves to get in the Christmas spirit by decorating their house with Christmas Lights, but these lights bring with them a fire hazard. Make sure you are not plugging too many lights in to any one outlet.
Clean out the gutters – Clean gutters can prevent snow and rain from causing other problems throughout your house.
Seal all leaks throughout your house – This is important all year long, but is especially important in the Winter. Closing any leaks can save immensely on your energy bill and help your family live a more comfortable life in the Winter.

Roadside Business after a Witner Weather Storm comes through.

Business

Snow Removal – If you live in an area where you experience a lot of snow, buy snow shovels and salt for the parking lot early. Consider consulting with a snow removal business to have your parking lot cleared when there is big snow.

Communicate with Employees – Today we are living in a hyper-connected world. This gives you many options to communicate with your staff when you either are or are not going to be open. Have a system for communication in place and test it when the weather is optimal so you know what you need to fix before Winter Weather hits.

Limit the use of space heaters – It is difficult to keep your business at a comfortable temperature for everyone in your office. If you do allow some employees to use

The word snow written on the back window of a car during a Winter Storm.