How to Make Sure You’re Ready for Winter Driving

Winter is full of driving hazards — snow, black ice, freezing rain and more.

Our friends at Idaho Advocates know this all too well. As personal-injury attorneys, they help clients after accidents, offering free consultations and only accepting payment if they win the case. But they'd like to help drivers before a crash, too, so they shared these five tips on preparing (mentally and physically) for winter driving:

1) Make sure your car is in top shape. If your windshield wipe blades smear or skip, it's time to replace them. Similarly, if your tire tread is low, you'll want to replace the tires to ensure you have the best chance possible of retaining traction in bad weather. Finally, make sure each of your family's vehicles has an emergency kit; check out this article for details on what should be in an emergency kit.

2) During inclement weather, drive defensively and make sure you leave plenty of room between you and the vehicle in front of you so you can stop safely if needed. Geico suggests anticipating that it will take you two to three times longer to stop in slick conditions. And, they point out braking early gives vehicles behind you a heads up that they might need to brake, too.

3) If your car begins to slip, take your foot off the gas. If you start to slide, you should turn your steering wheel in the direction the rear of your vehicle is going, according to IcyRoadSafety.com.

4) Don't slam on your brakes. As AAA advises, "whether you have antilock brakes or not, keep the heel of your foot on the floor and use the ball of your foot to apply firm, steady pressure on the brake pedal."

5) Pay extra attention. Check the weather forecast, and constantly scan vehicles and potential hazards around you. Of course, you should avoid distractions such as cellphones, eating or drinking and arguing children.

If you do get in a crash, follow these tips from Idaho Advocates and don't hesitate to give them a call at 208-995-2444 to see if they can help. They won't use any pressure tactics; you'll get to speak with an attorney and learn right over the phone if you have a case.

You have nothing to lose by giving them a call!