[{"@context":"http:\/\/schema.org","@type":"BlogPosting","dateModified":"2025-08-25","datePublished":"2019-01-09","about":"Tips","wordCount":730,"url":"https:\/\/www.lawtoncates.com\/blog\/be-safe-in-your-winter-driving\/","mainEntityOfPage":"https:\/\/www.lawtoncates.com\/blog\/be-safe-in-your-winter-driving\/","description":"Winter has come early to Wisconsin. It\u2019s a good time to brush up on safe winter driving.\u00a0As the snow flies, keep these tips in mind. Vehicle Maintenance Cold, snow and salt can be hard on your vehicle. Breakdowns in winter can be life threatening.\u00a0Have your car serviced by a qualified mechanic for routine maintenance.\u00a0 Make sure your vehicle is ready for the winter by having it checked for leaks, worn hoses, worn tires and battery life. It\u2019s always a good idea to check for safety recalls on your vehicle.\u00a0If you\u2019ve moved since you bought your car or if you own [\u2026]","name":"Be Safe In Your Winter Driving","headline":"Be Safe In Your Winter Driving","articleBody":"Winter has come early to Wisconsin. It\u2019s a good time to brush up on safe winter driving.\u00a0As the snow flies, keep these tips in mind.Vehicle MaintenanceCold, snow and salt can be hard on your vehicle. Breakdowns in winter can be life threatening.\u00a0Have your car serviced by a qualified mechanic for routine maintenance.\u00a0 Make sure your vehicle is ready for the winter by having it checked for leaks, worn hoses, worn tires and battery life.It\u2019s always a good idea to check for safety recalls on your vehicle.\u00a0If you\u2019ve moved since you bought your car or if you own a used car, you might not receive recall notices.\u00a0The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has a Recall Look-Up Tool that will allow you to look up any recalls on your vehicle using the Vehicle Identification Number.\u00a0If you find you have a recall, contact your local dealership for service.Emergency SuppliesKeep supplies in your vehicle to deal with winter weather, including supplies you might need in an emergency.\u00a0Always keep the following items in your vehicle:Snow shovel and ice scraper;Abrasive material such as cat litter or sand to use in case you get stuck;Jumper cables, flashlight, hand and feet warmers, flares and emergency markers;Blankets; A cell phone with charger, water, food and medicine (especially on longer trips or when traveling in remote or lightly populated areas).Drive Defensively and SoberOnce you\u2019re on the road in Winter, keep safe by using smart winter driving skills:Do not text while driving and avoid anything that might distract you while behind the wheel;Obey all posted speed limits and drive slower when necessary based on visibility, the weather and road conditions;Don\u2019t tailgate other drivers.\u00a0 Tailgating on slippery roads can injure you and others.\u00a0Leave more following distance when conditions are slick, or visibility is bad;Drive sober.\u00a0 Alcohol and drugs impair perception, judgment, motor skills, and memory.\u00a0All skills critical for safe driving.\u00a0If you\u2019ve had too much to drink, call a friend or family member, get a cab or take public transportation;Know whether your vehicle has anti-lock brakes and learn how to use them properly.\u00a0If you have anti-lock brakes, apply firm, continuous pressure to the brake pedal.\u00a0If you don\u2019t have anti-lock brakes, you may need to pump your brakes if you feel your wheels locking up while stopping.Drive Carefully Around SnowplowsSnowplow drivers have a tough job.\u00a0They work long hours keeping the roads clear in the winter.\u00a0Make their job easier and safer \u2014 and your travel safer \u2014 by driving carefully when you encounter a snowplow:When encountering a snowplow, don\u2019t crowd, tailgate or travel beside them. Snowplows travel slowly, make wide turns, stop often, overlap lanes, and exit the road frequently.\u00a0The road behind a snowplow is safer to drive on. If you find yourself behind a snowplow in snowy weather, be patient and stay a safe distance behind it.When you are driving behind a snowplow, don\u2019t follow it too closely. A snowplow operator\u2019s field-of-vision is limited; if you can\u2019t see the mirrors, the driver can\u2019t see you. Also, materials used to de-ice the road could hit your vehicleSnowplows often throw up a cloud of snow that can reduce your visibility to zero in less time than you can react. Never drive into a snow cloud \u2013 it can conceal vehicles or hazards.What if you Run into Trouble in Bad Weather?If you get stopped or stalled in bad weather:\u00a0Stay with your vehicle and don\u2019t overexert yourself;Put bright markers on the antenna or windows;To avoid carbon monoxide poisoning or asphyxiation, don\u2019t run your car for long periods of time with the windows up or in an enclosed space.\u00a0If you must run your vehicle, clear the exhaust pipe of any snow, running it only occasionally, long enough to stay warm.Remember that the weather doesn\u2019t cause accidents, drivers not driving carefully enough in bad weather cause accidents.\u00a0If the roads are slick or visibility is bad, slow down and drive defensively.\u00a0It\u2019s the best winter driving strategy of all.Attorney Polich is an experienced trial lawyer at LawtonCates. He has been handling personal injury cases on behalf of traffic crash victims\u00a0for over 20 years.","author":{"@type":"Person","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/2f34718d3c46ee2833d3ccf83f7221a0?s=96&d=mm&r=g","height":96,"width":96,"@id":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/2f34718d3c46ee2833d3ccf83f7221a0?s=96&d=mm&r=g"},"url":"https:\/\/www.lawtoncates.com\/blog\/author\/lawtoncates\/","name":"LawtonCates","identifier":7,"@id":"https:\/\/www.lawtoncates.com\/blog\/author\/lawtoncates\/#Person"},"image":{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https:\/\/www.lawtoncates.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/lawton-cates-attorneys.jpg","height":550,"width":694,"@id":"https:\/\/www.lawtoncates.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/lawton-cates-attorneys.jpg"},"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https:\/\/www.lawtoncates.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/lawtoncates-logo.png","height":73,"width":438,"@id":"https:\/\/www.lawtoncates.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/lawtoncates-logo.png"},"name":"LawtonCates, S.C.","@id":"https:\/\/www.lawtoncates.com\/blog\/be-safe-in-your-winter-driving\/#Organization1"},"@id":"https:\/\/www.lawtoncates.com\/blog\/be-safe-in-your-winter-driving\/#BlogPosting"},{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"BreadcrumbList","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Blog","item":"https:\/\/www.lawtoncates.com\/blog\/#breadcrumbitem"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"Be Safe In Your Winter Driving","item":"https:\/\/www.lawtoncates.com\/blog\/be-safe-in-your-winter-driving\/#breadcrumbitem"}]}]