Safe Winter Driving Habits for Wisconsin Residents

Winter can bring many dangers to Wisconsin roads. Blizzards coat the roads in slippery snow and ice, and can block your vision. Your car needs time to warm up before it runs smoothly.

As we head into the winter season, we’re more likely to have to deal with dangerous road conditions on a regular basis. If you know how to drive safely in the winter, you have a better chance of staying safe on the road.

Sometimes, winter weather can lead to car accidents. When you’re dealing with the aftermath of a car accident, you should call a car accident attorney immediately. The lawyers at Urban & Taylor in Milwaukee understand what you’re experiencing and want to help you get compensation for your injuries, lost wages, and pain and suffering.

How Can You Keep Your Vehicle Safe?

The National Highway Traffic Safety lists ways to prepare your vehicle for winter weather.

• Get Your Car Serviced. As the winter season starts, get your car serviced to make sure everything is working correctly. Have a mechanic check your battery, lights, cooling system, washer reservoir, and tires.
• Know How Your Car Handles Winter Weather. Vehicles handle the road differently, and the same goes in inclement weather. Practice in parking lots or roads that don’t see a great deal of traffic.
• Set Floor Mats. Sometimes, floor mats aren’t flat on the ground and can get in the way of your gas and brake pedals.
• Prepare Your Vehicle. Load your vehicle with an ice scraper and shovel so you can clear snow away from your car. It’s also a good idea to pack a flashlight, jumper cables, and a blanket. For longer trips, bring a phone charger, food, and water.

What Are Some Safe Winter Driving Tips?

The Wisconsin Department of Transportation released some winter safety tips so you can keep yourself and others safe on the road.

• Clear Your Vehicle. In the winter, it’s common for your car to have some snow or ice on it. Clear all of it off your vehicle. If your windows are icy, give your car time to warm up and defrost the ice.
• Stay Alert. Speed limits are made for when the roads are dry. If going the full speed limit seems too dangerous, slow down.
• Leave Room. Give yourself space between other cars, especially maintenance vehicles and plows. By law, you have to allow maintenance vehicles to pass. When you’re driving near them, don’t make sudden lane changes.
• Know Road Conditions. Before heading out, check the weather so you know what’s expected to happen that day. You might find that your errands can wait for tomorrow.
• Brake Carefully. Braking in bad weather means it will take longer for your car to stop. If you see that you have to hit your brakes, brake earlier than usual so you have plenty of time.
• Avoid Cruise Control. You might lose control of your car more easily with cruise control because one touch on your brakes will turn the feature off.
• Always Use Caution. 4×4 vehicles might have an easier time accelerating, but they still need the same amount of time to slow down as other vehicles.
• Know Your Brake System. Do you have anti-lock breaks or not? If you do and you hit a slippery patch of ice, you simply stomp on the breaks and start steering. If you don’t have them, you pump the brakes and try to regain control of the car.

Do You Need a Milwaukee Car Accident Lawyer?

If you or a loved one has been in a car accident, you might be dealing with physical injuries, financial stress, and emotional injuries. You don’t deserve to experience any kind of suffering when another driver made reckless driving decisions.

The lawyers at Urban & Taylor are ready to help. We’ll fight for your rights and make sure you get the compensation you need so you can focus on your recovery. Call us today for a free consultation at (866) 720-7232.