Stock Your Vehicle:
Carry items in your vehicle to handle common winter driving-related tasks, such as cleaning off your windshield, as well as any supplies you might need in an emergency.
Keep the following in your vehicle:
* Snow shovel, broom, and ice scraper.
* Abrasive material such as sand or kitty litter, in case your vehicle gets stuck in the snow.
* Jumper cables, flashlight, and warning devices such as flares and emergency markers.
* Blankets for protection from the cold.
* A cell phone with charger, water, food, and any necessary medicine (for longer trips or when driving in lightly populated areas).
Driving in Winter Conditions:
* Drive slowly. It’s harder to control or stop your vehicle on a slick or snow-covered surface.
* On the road, increase your following distance enough so that you’ll have plenty of time to stop for vehicles ahead of you.
* Know whether your vehicle has an antilock brake system and learn how to use it properly.
* Antilock brake systems prevent your wheels from locking up during braking. If you have antilock brakes, apply firm, continuous pressure to the brake pedal. If you don’t have antilock brakes, you may need to pump your brakes if you feel your wheels starting to lock up.
Navigating Around Snowplows:
* Don’t crowd a snow plow or travel beside it. Snow plows travel slowly, make wide turns, stop often, overlap lanes, and exit the road frequently.
* The road behind an active snow plow is safer to drive on. If you find yourself behind a snowplow, stay behind it or use caution when passing.
* When you are driving behind a snow plow, don’t follow or stop too closely. A snowplow operator’s field-of-vision is limited; if you can’t see the mirrors, the driver can’t see you. Also, materials used to de-ice the road could hit your vehicle.
* Snow plows can throw up a cloud of snow that can reduce your visibility to zero in less time than you can react. Never drive into a snow cloud – it can conceal vehicles or hazards.