Five Tips for Safe Winter Driving ~ #Esurance

Winter is here and wow is it cold out there! The freezing weather, the ice, and snow can all make driving conditions a little more difficult than let’s say on a clear sunny day. With our most precious cargo, aka children, in the back seat, you can never be too careful when staying safe on the roads. Here are five winter driving tips I just have to share:

Always be alert: Okay, well really this tip should be ANY TIME you are on the road. Given that winter conditions, such as ice and snow, can make the road slick, you need to stay alert. Be aware of what the cars are doing around you. You have to give yourself time to react. Last minute slamming on the breaks on an icy road can turn into quite a disaster!

Keep an emergency kit in the care: Cars are machines, and at times, machines can fail. It never hurts to keep an emergency kit in case you are stuck in cold conditions waiting for a tow truck or rescue vehicle. In my kit I have a flashlight, blanket, first aid kit, hand warmers, bottled water, snacks, and jumper cables. I’ve always heard it is recommended to have cat litter on hand because it can stick to your tires and create a traction.

Check your tires: Over time, the tread on tires can wear down. It is important, especially if you live in an area that gets quite a bit of snow and ice, to check to make sure there is still tread. If the tread on your tires have completely worn off, you risk the chance of slipping and sliding out on those slick roads!

Be cautious of ice: I can’t stress enough that while driving on ice you should slow down and drive cautiously. Give yourself plenty of room between you and the car in front of you. This way you can brake slowly instead of slamming. Slamming just leads to skidding which leads to crashes! Remember that bridges and overpasses are especially slippery.

Beware of deer: Winter is prime mating season for deer. They don’t think twice about jumping out in front of your car. I know here in Maryland during this season there are deer everywhere! Doesn’t matter if you are on the highway or a back road, you are still at risk of one of these guys darting out right in front of your car. Buckle up and don’t swerve if you see a deer. This can just cause you to loose control of your vehicle.

Just remember, no matter the road or weather conditions, it always best to be a smart driver. Buckle up and stay alert! Want to learn more about safe driving? Check out Esurance! They are making car insurance smarter from the time you get a  quote to the time you make a claim! Everything Esurance does it so ensure that you save both time and money.

I wrote this blog post while participating in the SocialMoms and Esurance blogging program for 8,000 My SocialMoms Rewards Points. For more information on how you can participate, click here.