It doesn’t snow very often in this part of Oregon, but it certainly does get cold and often there is ice on the road. Add in extra traffic, stressed travelers, and driving to places that you don’t visit very often, and a simple journey can become downright dangerous. Here are five tips to stay safe on the road this winter.

1. If you hit ice or a large patch of water, take your foot off the accelerator and do not brake. The same goes for going around sharp turns – your vehicle will lose traction when you hit the brakes. Letting yourself coast through a slick patch or around a corner keeps control in your hands.

2. If you start to spin out, keep your feet off the brakes and steer in the direction the car is going. Trying to correct will only lead to overcorrection, but steering into the spin will take you off the slick patch and is more likely to leave you facing the proper direction and able to move off to the shoulder or continue driving.

3. Pack a survival kit: fluids for the car, snacks, blankets, jumper cables, and a spare tire and jack. Plan for the worst, hope for the best, and always be prepared.

4. Leave extra time and distance. More vehicles on the road means more accidents, more traffic jams, and longer time to get from point A to point B. Leave more room between you and other cars on the road, to help avoid being the accident that closes a lane or two of highway traffic.

5. Do a complete and thorough check of your car before you hit the road. Make sure your fluids and tire pressure are at their proper levels, your windshield wipers aren’t worn out, all lights and signals work, the spare is inflated, and all belts are in good condition.

Have you ever been in or narrowly avoided a winter weather accident?

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