http://www.performanceautoblog.com/driving-snow-iceDriving in Snow & IcePerformance Automotive Blog

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Winter has most certainly arrived, and for those of us in the Midwest, this means hazardous road conditions.  Driving in snow and ice can be a challenge, and without the proper knowledge, some situations can be extremely dangerous.  In 2008, there were 250,000 auto accidents in the U.S. resulting from winter weather and poor driving conditions.  Approximately 64,000 of those accidents caused injury and 1,400 were fatal.  In order to be a safer driver on these hazardous roads, follow these recommendations from the professionals at Performance Auto, and you can avoid potentially dangerous situations.

• Watch your speed and allow for a much longer stopping distance.  Always leave extra room between you and the car in front of you.
• Bridges and overpasses are usually slippery.  Drive with extra caution in these areas.
• Don’t try and brake and turn at the same time – do one or the other.
• If your car has antilock brakes, apply solid pressure.   If not, pump the brakes.
• If you begin to slide, don’t hit the brakes.  Instead, lay off the gas and steer the car where you want it to go.  Look in the direction you want to go, not the direction you are going.
• When driving in deep, heavy snow, turn your wheels from side to side in order to push the snow out of the way.  If you get stuck, don’t spin your wheels.  This will only dig you in deeper.

While these tips will help keep you safe on the roads during winter weather, you may find yourself in dangerous circumstances.  For this reason keep a handful of items in your car in case of emergency, such as a shovel, scraper, cell phone, flashlight, first aid kit, windshield de-icer and icemelt.  Winters in the Midwest can be brutal, but with the proper knowledge and preparation we can all be safer on the roads and get through until spring.