Auburn Winter Driving Safety
Auto accidents can happen anywhere there is vehicle traffic. However, as the winter is approaching and Auburn is beginning to see more rain, wind, and cold weather, there are additional factors that can make it more dangerous to use local roadways. Because winter driving factors do increase the risk of being involved in a serious car accident, residents should do what they can to stay safe. While many accidents are out of drivers’ control and can’t be avoided, there are a few important ways that drivers can improve their roadway safety. The following blog contains some of the top safety tips that drivers should keep in mind as they prepare to drive through the coming cold, rainy, and snowy months.
Preparation
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration recommends that drivers should make sure that their vehicle is operating correctly before the onset of winter. Drivers should pay extra attention to their vehicle’s wipers, coolant, battery, tires, and other systems that can have difficulty with lower temperatures. If you have snow tires, make sure that they are installed on your vehicle before the season’s snowfalls.
Drive Carefully
Many people tend to drive with only a portion of their focus on the road, and the task can often even feel automatic. However, with slick roads, drivers need to keep themselves alert and be aware of their surroundings. Less traction on the road means that vehicles can spin out or fail to stop when you least expect.
It is also important to drive more slowly on wet or icy roads and during inclement weather. Both reduced visibility and lower road traction mean that drivers need even more time to stop their vehicles in order to avoid a collision. Avoiding high speeds means that you will be more able to avoid potential accidents. If you think you may be pressed for time, plan ahead and leave early so that you don’t have to sacrifice your safety in order to be punctual.
Use Headlights, Avoid Cruise Control
When visibility is affected by rain, fog, or snow, drivers should keep their headlights on.
Keeping your headlights on not only means that you can see further ahead of you, but also makes sure that pedestrians, bicyclists, motorcyclists, and other drivers know that you are on the road. It’s also important to make sure that your windshield wipers are effectively removing water and snow.
Drivers should be aware that cruise control can be dangerous on slick roadways. Many people think that cruise control will improve their safety by keeping them at a steady speed, but it can be dangerous to have the feature on when your vehicle starts to hydroplane.
Beware of Hydroplaning
Hydroplaning happens when a vehicle’s tires completely lose traction because of water sitting on top of the road. This will cause a vehicle to slide uncontrollably, and can happen with as little as a twelfth of an inch of water on the road and at speeds as low as 35 mph. Hydroplaning is even more likely to happen if you are driving a top-heavy vehicle such as a large truck or SUV. If you begin to hydroplane, you should let off of your acceleration pedal slowly and steer the vehicle straight ahead until you can gain control.
Recovering After a Crash
Accidents can leave people with serious or even fatal injuries. However, injured parties or their families are often able to reclaim money for their losses through personal injury claims. These claims can be complex and often involve a wide variety of damages related to physical, financial, and emotional losses. To better understand personal injury claims or to find out if you may be owed money for your injuries, you should talk to a professional, experienced personal injury lawyer. If you’d like to know a little more before calling an Auburn personal injury lawyer, check out the below video:
More from Ed Smith, Auburn Car Accident and Personal Injury Lawyer
- Pedestrian Safety in Auburn
- What is an Auburn Personal Injury Lawyer?
- Two Injured in Auburn Collision
Auburn Personal Injury Lawyer
I’m Ed Smith, an Auburn personal injury lawyer. Being hurt in an accident can cause serious financial and personal difficulties. If you’ve been affected by a traumatic accident, call (530) 392-9400 or my toll-free line, (800) 404-5400, to talk to with me and receive free, friendly advice.
I’m proud to say that I’ve been serving the Auburn community for 36 years, and have helped many people with wrongful death and personal injury cases obtain fair verdicts and settlements.
If you’d like to know what my past clients think of me, read their reviews at:
I am in the Million Dollar Advocates Forum, which means I’ve obtained over one million dollars on behalf of a client through a single verdict or settlement.
Auburn Winter Driving Safety: Ed Smith
Picture: rainy road by Tanja Hefner under unsplashcco / Auburn Winter Driving Safety
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