Most Montana drivers are skilled at driving in snowy and wintery conditions. It comes with the territory of living in a cold-weather state. However, there are probably a few tips and tricks that even the most skilled winter driver doesn’t know about.
You may want to review the following winter weather driving advice.
How to drive on snowy and icy roads in Montana
The following tips might help reduce your fears and the driving dangers associated with Montana’s coldest months:
- Don’t ever drive when you’re extremely tired. Sleep-deprived and fatigued driving is the cause of numerous wrecks, even when the weather is perfect. If you add dangerous variables like snow and ice on top of fatigue, it’s a recipe for an accident.
- Don’t warm up your car while it’s in the garage. This can cause deadly and toxic fumes to fill your garage — and your lungs.
- Inflate your tires properly. Cold temperatures cause the air inside your tires to deflate, which can make an already low-pressure tire even flatter and more dangerous.
- Keep your gas tank half full at all times so your gas lines don’t freeze up.
- Don’t rely on your parking brake, as it won’t work as effectively in the cold temperatures.
- Don’t use cruise control in slippery or snow conditions. You need to be 100 percent alert when you’re behind the wheel in severe weather conditions.
- When the roads could be slippery, always accelerate and decelerate with caution. Push on the gas pedal slowly and push on the brake pedal slowly. Leave plenty of room between you and other cars so you can slow down with care if required.
- Drive slower. A slower driver has more time to navigate obstacles in the road and there could be more obstacles in wintery conditions.
- Try not to stop half-way up a hill. If you lose your momentum while going up a hill, it could be too icy and too slippery for your car to recreate that inertia. Make sure the entire way is clear before going up a hill. Don’t “power up” the hill, but maintain a constant and steady upward momentum.
- Just stay home. It’s not worth risking your life — even if you need to get to work — if the severe weather conditions are extreme. It’s generally best to stay home on “snow days.”
Were you hurt by another driver in snowy weather?
Drivers who neglect to adjust their speed and their driving in response to severe winter weather driving conditions could be financially liable for the accidents and injuries they cause. If you were hurt by a driver in snowy weather conditions, you may want to learn about your legal rights and options.