New York Winter Driving Tips: How To Drive In The Snow

This week we covered the tragic car accident death of a young Grand Island mother and her 9-month-old daughter. The mother lost control of her car on a two-way highway and slid into an oncoming vehicle. Police say that snowy, icy roadway condition caused the deadly New York Accident.

Especially in upstate New York, it is absolutely vital for all drivers to understand how to drive in winter conditions and how to avoid winter weather-related vehicle accidents. Here are our top five tips for driving in the snow:

• Make sure your car is prepared for winter. Check the treads on your tires. Check your windshield wiper blades and windshield fluid. Apply water-shedding solution on your windshield, mirrors, and side windows. Clean the inside of your windshield. All of these fixes will improve traction and visibility.
• Know your brakes. Make sure you know if you have anti-lock brakes or not. Stopping in an emergency requires different techniques for each kind of brake. Learn the appropriate emergency braking techniques for you type.
• Be aware of where dangerous conditions often appear. Ice will more likely appear on overpasses and bridges or in heavily shaded areas. Wind may be an issue in open valleys or bridges. Be extremely careful in spots that are known for bad conditions and car accidents.
• Steer conservatively. Over-steering after a skid on in icy or snowy conditions can be extremely dangerous – and can lead to your car leaving its lane, hitting an obstacle, or entering oncoming traffic. Learn how to steer while skidding and always make small movements so that you do not overcorrect.
• Don’t drive in poor conditions. The best way to avoid getting into a weather-related accident is to stay off roads during snow storms and other adverse weather.