DRIVING TIPS TO AVOID WINTER CAR ACCIDENTS

Winter is here. Our car accident lawyers always see in increase in cases when the roads are slippery. Sadly, most of these crashes are avoidable. The Minnesota State Patrol recently offered their top 10 winter driving tips. You probably already know these things, but take a minute anyway for a refresher.

Top 10 Winter Driving Tips

BEFORE YOU LEAVE:

1. Check weather and road conditions. Whether you look online or call 511, make sure the roads between you and your destination are safe to travel. And we cannot stress this enough: If a travel advisory says it’s not safe to drive, don’t drive.
2. Grab your emergency kit and charge your phone. If you get in a crash, you’ll need a fully charged phone to call for help and the items in your emergency kit to stay comfortable until help comes.
3. Tell someone where you’re going. Let them know when you expect to arrive at your destination and the route you’re taking to get there. That way, if you don’t show up, they’ll know you need help. If you have an Iphone, activating “find my friends” is helpful.
4. Top off your tank and clean off the snow and ice. Travel in poor conditions can take a lot longer than normal, so make sure you have plenty of gas. And when we recommend cleaning the snow off your windows, we mean all of them, not just an eye-level swath of the windshield. While you’re at it, get the snow off your hood, roof, and trunk so that it doesn’t fly off and blind you or the vehicle behind you. Make sure to clear off your headlights and taillights as well.

DRIVING FOR WINTER CONDITIONS:

1. Buckle up and put distractions away. This is good advice no matter the weather, but before those wheels roll, put on your seat belt (same for your passengers). Limit distractions by setting your music and GPS before you go, or just put your phone away altogether. Remember that Minnesota is a hands-free cell phone state.
2. Slow down. When you’re driving in snow and ice, don’t drive to the speed limit; drive to conditions. It may take longer to get to your destination, but you’ll arrive alive. Also, increase your following distance from the vehicle ahead of you so that you can stop more easily if you need to.
3. Turn your lights on. In the wintertime, headlights are as much for being seen as they are for seeing. Don’t depend on the auto headlight feature; make sure other vehicles know you’re there by manually turning on your lights.

AFTER A CAR ACCIDENT:

1. Steer where you want the car to go. If you hit a patch of ice, stay calm and turn the steering wheel in the direction you want the car to go. Also, take your foot off the accelerator.
2. Get off the road. If you do crash, try to get off the road to a safe location, such as a parking lot. This will help keep other motorists from crashing into you.
3. Stay inside. Once you’re off the road, don’t leave your car. You’ll want to conserve as much heat as possible without running the engine so that you can stay warm until help comes.

If you are injured in a car accident, call us for a free consultation. An experienced lawyer will answer your questions and make sure your rights are protected.