It is critical to be prepared when the temperature drops. The same is true while dealing with snowfall; the more snow on the ground, the more perilous your everyday drive gets. Fortunately, there are a few winter safety guidelines you can follow to keep you and your family safe.
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Invest in Winter Tires
Winter tires are required if you live in a location that receives numerous heavy snowfalls per year. Winter tires are made with softer rubber than standard tires, providing improved traction in snow and ice. Snow tires allow you to better control your vehicle and stop faster on snow and ice. This action could potentially avoid a severe accident. Although these tires are expensive, the increased safety they give is worth it.
Allow Yourself Time
Always allow for extra time when traveling in the snow and ice. If your daily trip is generally 20 minutes, allow yourself 30 minutes so you don’t have to hustle. Remember that specified speed limits are for ideal driving conditions only. As a result, in the snow, you should slow down to give yourself adequate time to stop.
Check That You Can See
Snow can impair your vision when driving; always do your best to maximize your vision. Before leaving your driveway, clean your windscreen, windows, and mirrors. You should also clean your lights regularly because road slush and grit will stick to them, making it harder to see in the dark.
How to Drive in the Snow
Snow drivers who are inexperienced quickly become the most dangerous persons on the road. To assist prevent collisions, give other vehicles on the road at least three times the distance you typically would. If you do not have anti-lock brakes, you should learn to pump your brakes when you go into a skid, since this will assist you to regain control of your car.
Keep an eye out for ploughs and sanders.
When traveling in the winter, you should always be on the lookout for snowploughs and sanders, as you will undoubtedly come across a few. They go at a slower speed than typical traffic, so take your time at curves. You should also avoid overtaking these cars because they can blow sand and snow onto your car.
Take precautions when walking.
Even after you get out of your car, exercise caution. When the bottoms of your shoes grow warm, they can transform the snow you step on into the water, making them slippery. To avoid a severe fall, take short steps and keep your hands out of your pockets.
Purchase Supplies
Make sure you have enough food to last a few days before the snow falls. You should also stock up on essentials like toilet paper and diapers. You’ll be glad you took the time to make these purchases if you’re locked indoors for a few days. Because you will be pumping your furnace constantly, consider purchasing a gas detection device such as the MultiRAE Lite, which will provide you with advanced notice if something goes wrong.
Invest in Entertainment
If the cable lines fall, you’ll need to find something to do for the following few days. As a result, keep enough DVDs and CDs on hand to keep oneself entertained. If the power goes out, owning a portable DVD player will keep you entertained and prevent you from being bored. Remember that if the roads are bad, you will not want to go out during the snowstorm to obtain these items, so it is best to be prepared.
Know Where to Look for Information
Storms can sometimes escalate into life-threatening scenarios. In these cases, you should be aware of where to obtain the relevant information. These broadcasts are likely to be carried by your local radio stations. In rare situations, the storm may be severe enough to knock out your home’s heating system. As a result, you should be aware of the locations of emergency shelters in case you become disoriented in the middle of the night.
Prepare yourself
Just because you haven’t received several snow or ice storm warnings doesn’t mean one isn’t on the way. Weather patterns can change quickly, and if you are not prepared in advance, you may find yourself with insufficient time to prepare. It doesn’t take much effort to have a basic strategy and a few additional materials on hand, but it could save you a lot of trouble in the future.
Spray with cooking spray
Snow shoveling is arduous work, especially when the snow is thick and wet like it is on your driveway and walkway. Spray some cooking spray on your shovel to make it easier. It will help you travel faster through the snow and keep it from adhering to your shovel. To avoid a mess, simply wipe the ice shovel tool down before storing it in the garage.
