Winter Driving Tips

Keeping Safety High When the Temperature is Low

As we approach late fall and another icy and snowy Idaho winter, it is vital that we do our part to keep ourselves, our neighbors, and our loved ones safe while on the roads. These are some of our top tips for safe winter driving:

-Don’t Use Cruise! Using cruise control on icy and snowy roads can quickly lead to loss of traction and skidding, it also considerably reduces a driver’s reaction time.

-Slow Down, Leave Space. Slowing down and lengthening your following distance can greatly reduce the severity of winter driving accidents, this is one of the easiest ways to prevent avoidable accidents.

-Turn Into a Skid. Should your vehicle lose traction, remain calm and turn your wheels into the direction of the skid, this way when your wheels regain traction, no over-corrective steering will lead to an accident or further skidding.

-Stay Road Ready. Be sure to always keep your gas tank full. Prepare your vehicle for the road by ensuring that it is cleared of all snow—especially your lights, windows, and mirrors.

-Keep an Emergency Pack. It is incredibly important to be prepared in the event of an accident; it is wise to keep a roadside emergency kit stocked with gloves, blankets/spare coats, food, water, a first aid kit, a flashlight, a small shovel, jumper cables, and a windshield scraper in your vehicle.

-Let Someone Know Before You Go. Before hitting the road, take the time to let someone know your travel/commute plans and consider providing them with an ETA, in the event of an accident, emergency response teams will have a much higher chance of providing quick and efficient services.

Last but not least, always remember to take things slowly and practice patience with your fellow drivers.

Living in Mountain Home we are blessed with a community of individuals with distinct and varying backgrounds, there are those who have driven on ice and snow all their lives, and those who will see snow fly for their first time this year. A little courtesy goes a long way, and it is a small price to pay for the safety of everyone. Safe Travels!