Keeping it Safe this Winter-Driving on Snow and Ice

While some states haven’t seen much of a winter this season, the fact remains that some states like Boston have been the home for plenty of snow. How do you drive safely when the snow is coming down in buckets and the roads are slick with ice? The first tip would be this: perhaps you should stay inside when you see a mess like that. If you must drive in all that Boston snow maybe you should wait for the road crew to do their magic with snow plows and sand or salt. If you decide to drive in hazardous conditions it might be a smart idea to wait on the road crew to make the roads safer. Battling the Boston snow and ice can be tricky and it’s certainly no fun, but if you must weather the storm to try and get to work here are a few things to remember.

Make sure your snow tires have the right traction.  You need snow tires if you’re going to drive in Boston snow country. Your regular summer tires will not do the job in the Boston snow. Summer tires don’t have the grip you need when driving in snow and ice. Make sure your windows are clean and you have 100% visibility. Double check to see if you have windshield wiper fluid –and anti icing in. The main thing is that you can see when that snow is coming down hard. Here's another tip you probably didn't think of: run your air conditioner. Running the air on a low setting can remove condensation and frost from your car's interior. Be sure to check your lights before you head out the driveway. To ensure your safety and the safety of others your lights need to be in working order. 

This next tip can save your life-watch out for black ice. Black ice is extremely dangerous; it is often called invisible ice because you can’t see it. Black ice looks like part of the road and if you’re not driving carefully one slip could cause an accident or even take your life. Watch your steering! Steering the wheel too much to prevent hitting an oncoming vehicle could make matters worse and cause you to swerve.

This is the 411 on driving safely in Boston winter weather. But no matter how safe you drive, there’s always a risk when driving in snow and ice. All you can do is buckle up and drive with extreme caution in the “Ice ice baby”!