The best tip for driving in snow is to avoid it all together, but that’s not always possible. If you must drive on snow-covered roads, there are precautions you can take to minimize your chances of being involved in a car accident. Unfortunately, however, not all other drivers on the road will follow these tips for driving in snow, so defensive driving is important when it comes to traveling on snow-covered roads.

If you must drive in wintry weather, here are some tips for driving in snow from the friendly, professional team at Brakes Plus that will help to reduce your chance of getting into an accident:

• Make sure your tires are made for snowy travel. Many drivers of SUVs and other vehicles made for rugged terrain and snow-covered roads give drivers a false sense of security. Just because you’re in a vehicle such as an SUV does not mean you can easily maneuver along snowy roadways. To have adequate traction on a snow-covered road, tires require at least a 6/32 inch deep tread. Even tires known as “all season” tires don’t always have great traction on snowy roads. If you live in an area that often has snow, you should use snow tires that meet tire-industry standards for snow traction. Brakes Plus can examine your tires and advise you on whether or not they are suited for snow-covered roadways.
• Know how to properly use your brakes before the snow comes. Proper use of anti-lock brakes when there’s no snow involves stomping, staying and steering. You should stomp on the brake pedal, stay hard on the brake pedal and steer around the obstacle in your way. But anti-lock brakes should be operated a little differently on snow-covered roads. After the first step of “stomping,” your anti-lock brake system begins cycling, and you will feel pulses on the brake pedal or even hear the ABS working. Then, ease up on the pedal just enough to allow the wheels to turn again. Repeat this but don’t “pump” the brake. You want the tires to grip the best grip of the road as possible.
• Drive slowly and look ahead. You should allow at least 3 times the distance you normally would allow between you and the car in front of you.
• Brake smoothly before entering a curve or turn and then release the brakes; once you are through the turn, you can then
• Learn how to control a skid. Most people tend to over steer when skidding and this can lead to serious problems. Many accidents on snow-covered roads can be avoided by proper use of the steering wheel and accelerator during a skid. Many over steer skids can be corrected by releasing the brake and gently accelerating, which transfers weight from the front to the rear wheels, allowing you to steer in the direction of the skid and get control of your vehicle again. If you have a rear-wheel drive vehicle, do not over-accelerate because your tires will spin and you will slide.  Many find it constructive to practice in a snowy, empty parking lot to become familiar with how your car will handle in the snow.

Driving in snow tips are helpful to read but they can be lifesavers when you’re actually driving in the snow. Proper tire maintenance is crucial to keeping you safe on snowy roads. Brakes Plus offers expert tire rotation and balance services to ensure your tires are in good working order for wintry weather.

Sources: A variety of sources considered to be reliable were used in the compilation of this article, including the National Safety Council and VehicleMD.