Safety Tips for Driving in Extreme Cold

 Posted on February 04, 2019 in Driving Safety

On January 30, Chicago experienced its second-coldest day in recorded history. With a high of 10 degrees below zero, the freezing temperatures prompted school and work closures throughout the city. For commuters in the greater Chicago area, the dramatic lowering of temperatures is a genuine cause for concern. While driving at extreme temperatures is always accompanied by a certain amount of risk, there are a few simple steps you can take to lower the chance of a motor vehicle collision. 

Driving Safely in Freezing Temperatures 

When driving in temperatures below freezing, it is important to act with extreme caution. Adjusting your driving habits to the inclement weather and preparing for potential hazardous scenarios can make all the difference in ensuring the safety of you and your family.

Winter Vehicle Preparation

As a cold-weather driver, there are certain steps you should take prior to driving your vehicle for safe operation. The first step to take is ensuring you have maximum visibility from your vehicle. You can do this through the use of a snow brush or scraper, and clearing all windows and mirrors of any frost, snow, or ice. If the windshield cleaning solution dispenser in your car is frozen, you can clean it at a gas station. Also, winter tires can increase traction and lower the risk of accidents caused by ice or snow on the road. 

Winter Driving Habits

While properly preparing your vehicle for winter driving conditions can help decrease the likelihood of a collision, the best thing you can do to remain safe is to alter your normal driving habits appropriately. If ice or snow is present on the road, you should drive at speeds below the legal speed limit, and further lower speed when approaching corners, turns, or other vehicles on the road. It is also wise to only pass other vehicles when absolutely necessary. 

Prepare for the Worst

You may not want to envision a motor vehicle collision, but in extreme weather conditions, emergency preparation can be the difference between life or death. Stocking your vehicle with warm clothes such as gloves, hats, and snow gear can help you stay warm while you wait for medical and law enforcement personnel to arrive at the scene. If you plan to drive in rural areas during winter months, a sleeping bag will help you stay warm if an emergency causes you to stay in your vehicle overnight. A flashlight and car battery jumper cables are also a good idea.

Contact a Lake County Car Accident Lawyer 

During winter months, car accidents in the greater Chicago area are incredibly common. If you or a loved one are injured in a motor vehicle collision this winter, it is possible the accident was caused by the negligent actions of another driver. At Salvi and Maher, L.L.C., our legal team has decades of experience helping clients recover from injuries suffered in car crashes. To schedule a free consultation with a skilled Waukegan personal injury attorney, call us today at 847-662-3303. 

Sources

https://canadasafetycouncil.org/winter-driving-tips/?utm_source=baytoday.ca&utm_campaign=baytoday.ca&utm_medium=referral

https://wgntv.com/2019/01/30/its-officially-the-second-coldest-day-in-chicago-weather-history/