Winter Driving Safety Tips for Colorado

With an average annual snowfall of around 67 inches, Colorado’s mountainous roads can turn treacherous in the winter months. Colorado residents must learn how to safely operate a car in dangerous wintertime conditions. Use these basic winter driving safety tips to avoid disaster this cold season.

Winterize Your Vehicle

Preparation is critical when it comes to navigating Colorado’s winter roads safely. How you prepare for driving in the cold is almost as important as the actual driving. Start by winterizing your car. Install winter tires, snow tires or chains as needed to improve your traction on slippery roads. Check your lights, battery, fluids and tire pressure. Put a cold-weather emergency kit in the trunk in case you do have an unexpected breakdown.

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Reduce Your Speed

Speed is your enemy in cold weather conditions. When the roads are snowy or icy, traveling too fast can cause you to skid or slide out of control. Reduce your speed more than you normally would, especially before curves and downhill roads. This will give you greater control over your vehicle and the ability to come to a complete stop to avoid hazards.

Brake With Care

On snowy or icy roads, you may skid if you slam on your brakes. Instead of abruptly hitting the brakes, aim for a gradual reduction in speed. If your car has antilock brakes, apply firm pressure to stop the car. Without antilock brakes, you should gently pump the brakes on slippery roads. Increase your following distance to avoid having to suddenly brake.

Accelerate Gradually

Similar to hard braking, slamming down on the gas pedal can also cause a vehicle to skid or lose control on a snowy or icy road. Avoid sudden starts after being stopped at a red light or stop sign. Instead, release the brake and depress the gas pedal slowly and smoothly to prevent skidding as you take off.

Learn How to Recognize Black Ice

Black ice is a significant hazard that is created when snow melts and then refreezes, making a layer of slippery ice on the road that is transparent and difficult to see. You can avoid black ice by driving with your low-beam headlights on to illuminate patches of ice and driving cautiously, especially after it rains. If you hit black ice, don’t slam on your brakes. Gently apply pressure instead.

Steer Smoothly

Avoid jerking the steering wheel on a slippery roadway, even if you encounter a hazard. This can easily make your car slide or spin out of control. Make slow, deliberate turns and movements and drive with care. If your vehicle starts to skid, steer in the direction you want the car to travel. Do not slam on the brakes. Release the gas pedal and slowly apply the brakes.

Watch for Wildlife

Animals that live near mountain roads in Colorado tend to be more active and visible during the winter months as they move to lower elevations to find food and shelter. Drive slowly and keep an eye out for animals that may run or jump in front of your car, such as deer, elk or moose. Animal strikes are most common between the hours of dusk and dawn.

Prepare for Emergencies

Accidents can happen even to the most experienced driver in Colorado. If you find yourself stuck in your car in a snowstorm, having the right emergency tools on hand can be critical. Keep a kit in your car with blankets, extra clothing, nonperishable food, water, a flashlight, an emergency radio, jumper cables, traction aids and a first aid kit.

If you get into an automobile accident in Colorado due to winter conditions, contact Cannon Law for a free consultation with a car accident attorney to find out how we can help.