Whether you’re dealing with winter weather locally or are on vacation in a snowy region, safety is everything. About 70% of the U.S. population lives in a region that sees snow, and 24% of crashes linked to weather conditions occur when roads are slushy, snow-covered, or icy.
That’s just one of the safety issues faced during the winter. As people spend more time inside where windows are closed and social distancing isn’t always easily managed, diseases are more likely to spread. Colds, COVID, influenza, and viral pneumonia are all more common in the winter. Premium Urgent Care knows you must do what you can to keep yourself and your loved ones safe when you’re on the road this winter.
Winter Driving Safety Tips
You don’t need a lot of snow for roads to become hazardous. A thin layer of drifting snow and heat from tires turns a road into a skating rink. If you’re on the road and hit a strip of black ice, it’s a leading cause of crashes. Even with snow tires, which are not common on a rental vehicle if you’re vacationing, ice is a major hazard.
It doesn’t even have to be snow. A thick layer of slush or snow makes it hard for your tires to retain traction. Standing water makes it easy to hydroplane. The sun’s glare on snow can temporarily blind you or other drivers making it hard to see obstacles. Winter driving isn’t something every person understands. If you’re driving in a wintry climate, it’s important to keep these tips in mind.
Check Weather Reports
Before leaving, check the weather in areas where you’ll be driving. If you see a weather alert, plan to stay overnight in a nearby town rather than try to drive through the storm. Look for any apps like Waze that give you up-to-date reports on accidents or traffic jams in the area. You can use these alerts to detour around any hazardous road conditions or standstills.
Have Your Car Inspected Before You Leave
Have a mechanic check your car over before you leave. Make sure you have enough windshield washer fluid and that your wiper blades are in good shape. Have the oil checked and changed or topped up if needed. Check that the antifreeze level is okay. Finally, have the tire tread inspected to ensure you have enough tread.
Slow Down
You do not have to drive the posted speed limit. On interstates, it’s often acceptable to drop your speed to 40 mph when road conditions call for it. Slower might be safer. If a vehicle seems frustrated by your speed, signal to the right, pull over as far as you can, and let them pass.
Leave Space
Leave twice as much space between you and the car ahead of you. If they slide, you have extra space to react. If you slide, you’re not close enough to hit the person ahead of you as you take corrective measures. You also want extra space to allow extra time for braking.
Don’t Stop Suddenly
Slamming on your brakes on icy, slushy, or snowy roads is likely to cause you to slide. Take your foot off the accelerator as soon as you know you’ll need to stop, whether it’s a light, a stop sign, or a line of traffic. Let your car slow to a stop without needing the brakes. If you absolutely must use your brakes, apply gentle pressure and let the anti-lock braking do the work. Do not stomp on the brake pedal.
Don’t Make Sudden Turns
Like the tip of not slamming on your brakes, you also want to avoid sharp, sudden turns. Jerking the wheel to the left or right is more likely to cause your car to slide. Gently steer at a lower speed and stay on the road. If you must jerk the wheel to avoid another car or person on the road, be ready to take corrective action and steer out of the skid.
Steer Out of the Skid
You hit the ice and your car is sliding. Now what? Steer in the direction the rear of your car is sliding. If your front end is sliding towards the center line and your rear is sliding towards the shoulder, turn the wheels towards the shoulder to straighten your vehicle.
Keep a Safety Kit in Your Vehicle
If something does happen, you want to be prepared. Have a backpack or tote bag with flares, non-perishable foods, water bottles, a first aid kit, and blankets. A change of clothes is also worth having available. It might take time before the roads are clear enough to reach you. Staying warm, dry, and nourished helps. Water bottles are okay, but you can also eat snow to stay hydrated if necessary.
Keep a portable shovel and bag of cat litter or sand in your trunk or truck bed. You want to have the tools to add traction if it’s possible to get back onto the road after sliding off.
Stay in Your Car
If you watch winter driving videos at all, you often see pile-ups where people get out of their cars and stand on the side of the road while other cars slide into stopped traffic. You’re usually safer in your car. Don’t get out unless you must evacuate your car, such as for signs of smoke and flames. If you do get out, go up a hill or bank that’s far away from moving traffic.
Those tips help you avoid sliding off the road or hitting another vehicle or object if road conditions are lousy. There are no guarantees, however, so always err on the side of caution. If you don’t feel safe driving, stop and have a leisurely meal or stay overnight in the nearest town until conditions improve.
Tips for Winter-Related Illnesses and Injuries
Road conditions aside, the other issue with winter travel is that people get sick. You’re on a long flight in a cramped area. Someone has the flu, and days later, everyone in that section has it. You might have gone to the bathroom, washed your hands, touched the latch to open the door, and ended up with norovirus. You thought you did everything right, but the last person to use the bathroom didn’t wash their hands before leaving.
Avoiding winter-related illnesses is important when you’re taking a trip. While washing your hands is important, carry hand sanitizer, too. If you touch anything someone else touched, apply hand sanitizer. Wear a mask when you’re in a crowded area like a train, bus, or plane. Try to keep your distance from others at a store, in a theater, or at an area attraction.
Illnesses are part of the risk you take when you’re traveling. Injuries are also possible when you’re traveling for work or recreation. Before you travel, check with your medical insurance company to see how coverage works when you’re out of town. Are all of the medical practices out-of-network or are there certain hospitals or urgent care clinics you can go to for in-network care?
Don’t do more than your muscles and joints can handle. If you haven’t been hiking in years, don’t head out on an expert trail. Gradually warm up during your trip to avoid injuring yourself from overexertion.
If you’re traveling out of the country, how do you get medical care? What doctors and hospitals are approved by the insurance company? Should you purchase additional coverage to protect you when you’re traveling internationally?
Before you leave for vacation, make sure your flu and COVID vaccinations are current. They can’t stop you from getting the viruses, but they do help lower the risk of severe illness.
Premium Urgent Care makes it easy to get your boosters or necessary vaccinations. For the shortest wait times, use the online check-in and print-out forms and have them ready to fill out. If you were injured while you were away, we’re also happy to provide follow-up care when you’re back home.