More Tips on How to Prevent Missouri Car Accidents During Winter Conditions
Last week, we gave you some general driving tips from The Weather Channel about driving in snowy or icy weather, including the most important tip – don’t drive in bad weather if you don’t have to! This week, we would like to give you some more specific driving tips for what you should do when driving in winter weather if specific situations occur.
One of the biggest problems when driving on snow and ice is losing traction. If your rear wheels begin to start skidding, you should remove your foot from the gas pedal and steer the way you want the vehicle to go – if your wheels are sliding right, steer right. Your rear wheels could start sliding the other way as you are coming out of the skid. If that happens, you may need to steer right and left in order to bring the vehicle under your control again. Finally, use your brakes. In cars with anti-lock brakes, apply pressure consistently. If your car does not have anti-lock brakes, pump them lightly.
If your front wheels start skidding, shift into neutral and don’t push the accelerator. As the wheels skid, steer the car the way you want the vehicle to go, shift to drive and accelerate. If your car gets stuck in snow or ice, don’t spin the wheels. Turn your wheels several times to get snow away from the wheels. Using a shovel, clear snow away from the vehicle’s wheels. Use sand, salt, or kitty litter in the path of the wheels to gain traction. Gently press the accelerator.
Use good judgment about whether it’s safe to travel on snowy or icy roads. If you have been injured in a St. Louis automobile accident due to another driver’s negligence, contact the Missouri accident attorneys at Page Law. Call us today at 314-488-2433 for a free consultation on your case.
