Fortunately, I was able to move out of the road somewhat without ending up in the ditch. There was enough cell service to get a call off to our roadside assistance service for a tow and another call home to my wife for a rescue mission. I then dug into the emergency supplies I keep on hand in the winter and covered up the 4-year-old obliviously snoozing in his car seat with a blanket.

While I waited for the tow truck to arrive, I watched a mix of safe and reckless drivers pass by on the snow and ice covered road, and passed the time thinking about winter driving and being more prepared for being stranded.

Here are a few tips for safer winter driving to think about as we get ready for another season of skiing and snowboarding and driving sometimes sketchy roads.

Make Sure Your Vehicle Is Ready for Winter

Is your ski mobile ready for another season of winter driving? Get it checked out and tuned up by a professional, including a brake and heating/cooling system inspection. Consider vehicle repairs or an upgrade if the prognosis is questionable.

There are also quite a few things most of us can do ourselves: make sure your lights and turn signals are all clean and working, your windshield is chip and crack free, your windshield wipers are in good condition, the wiper fluid reservoir is full, and you have a functioning windshield scraper. And always fill up your gas tank before hitting the road.

Most importantly, have your tires checked out by a tire shop to make sure they are up for winter driving. Don’t forget to check the quality and pressure of your spare tire, and make sure you know how to deploy the spare and have the tools to remove it from your vehicle, as well as the jack to swap out tires.

Jumper cables and basic tools for dealing with dead batteries should also be in everyone’s winter driving kit. Finally, be sure to have the number for any AAA or other roadside assistance services you have with you in the vehicle.

Get Yourself Ready for Winter Driving

Assess the conditions before hitting the road and make sure you and your vehicle are up for what’s out there. On particularly snowy or icy days, assess your comfort limits and know when to stay home and off the roads.

Once you head out on the road, make sure you have everything you need for the drive close by to avoid distracting yourself while rummaging around for your water bottle or a snack when you should be paying attention to the road.

If you need to switch the tunes, answer a phone call, or make a text, pull over in a safe place. Distracted driving on winter roads is the cause of many accidents.

And finally, if you want to decrease your odds of an accident, slow down and don’t follow too close to other vehicles. If you’re holding up traffic or someone is tailgating you, find a safe place to pull over and let them by.

Be Prepared for Emergencies

When travelling winter mountain roads, it’s always a good idea to keep your vehicle well-stocked with basic safety and emergency gear and supplies. Things like road flares or reflective cones to warn oncoming drivers of an accident or vehicle stranded on the road are a great idea, as is a basic first-aid kit to deal with minor injuries.

A shovel and extra winter gloves for digging a vehicle out of a snowbank is highly recommended. And keep a blanket or two and extra warm clothes, food, and water in a pack or bin that stays in the vehicle to help make a wait for help much less miserable and potentially lifesaving.

Driving up to the mountains in the winter doesn’t need to be a nerve-wracking experience. Plan ahead, be prepared, slow down, and take it easy on the roads this winter!

Originally published as “Planning Ahead for Safe Winter Driving” in the October-November 2019 issue.

Read How To Prepare Your Vehicle for Winter Driving.

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Proper preparation for winter driving will help make it physically safer and mentally less-stressful for you. Here are four key essentials to ensure your drives on mountain roads and urban streets are nothing to fear.

Winter Maintenance

First, ensure your vehicle’s battery, wiper blades, and fluids are winter-ready. Install winter wiper blades and stock-up on winter-specific washer fluid that won’t freeze—you’ll use a lot over the course of the winter. If your car was recently serviced and has summer washer fluid, add washer antifreeze.

Parking in a garage or carport whenever possible protects the battery and prevents fluids from freezing. And it’s a good idea to keep the gas tank half-full to prevent fuel lines from freezing.

Being able to see clearly through the windshield is critical, so be sure to have chips in a windshield repaired before they turn into a crack during sub-freezing weather.

Tires

All-season tires are recommended when temperatures are regularly less than 40° F. First, check the side walls of your vehicle’s current all-season tires to examine tread depth, and then decide if you need new all-season tires or want to invest in winter (snow) tires, advises Jeremy Dierks, owner and manager of Perfection Tire’s downtown location.

“If your all-seasons are half-worn, get new tires,” he says. In addition to tires of all types, his shop provides full-service automotive service and stocks winter supplies, such as winter washer fluid and wiper blades, batteries, and more. “If you’re familiar with driving in Northwest weather, then you may not need snow tires. Although winter tires make a big difference,” adds Dierks.

Though most newer vehicles come with all-wheel drive, drivers shouldn’t rely on that alone while driving in challenging winter road conditions. Skiers and snowboarders who frequently drive mountain roads know that all-wheel drive is only as safe and stable as the tires on that vehicle.

“Tread compound is half as stiff on snow tires,” Dierks says, which results in 50% traction improvement and greater control on snow and ice. “If you’re not confident driving in the snow, it’s better to get snow tires.”

Dierk’s top recommendation for winter tires is the Nokian® Hakkapeliitta. Based in Finland, Nokian invented snow tires in 1901, he says, and manufactures high-end tires that go through rigorous testing.

Next, he suggests the American-constructed Cooper® snow tires or the Vitier® “budget line” of tires. Blizak® is another high-end tire brand, well-known by alpine winter sports enthusiasts. “They’re the second best snow tire available – made in Japan – and cost as much or more than Nokian.”

Studded snow tires are becoming a thing of the past because they’re usually unnecessary, Dierks says. Today, “90% of winter tires are stud-less.” In Washington State, there is a per tire fee for installation of studded snow tires. But investing in studded snow tires may be best for those without four-wheel drive vehicles. “It’s cheaper than buying a new car,” he says.

In Washington, vehicles can only have studded tires on from November 1 to the end of March (learn the latest regulations and requirements). In Idaho, studded snow tires are legal from October 1 to April 30, but Idaho Department of Transportation advises to only use if conditions While it may be legal to use the tires, officials advise against it unless necessary because of snow-related road conditions. 

As for when to get your new tires, Dierks says anytime after November 1st is a good time, especially to beat the “snow rush.” He advises getting your new all-season or snow tires by mid-October, and wait to take off snow tires until April. Weather “below 70° is not going to be detrimental to winter tires, though it’s best to keep them off dry roads,” he says.

No matter what tires you choose, be sure to check tire pressure monthly. (Vehicles manufactured in 2009 or newer come installed with low tire pressure indicators.) In cold weather, a “tire typically loses 3-7 pounds of pressure,” he says. For example, a tire with 44 psi (pounds per square inch), which is a typical tire, can decrease to 37 psi.

Emergency Supplies

Another important winter driving safety tip is to keep a bin of winter emergency supplies inside your vehicle. Every year there are stories of people getting stranded in heavy snow.

Those who’ve traveled I-90’s Snoqualmie Pass know that traffic accidents, slide-outs, and avalanche control measures can cause multi-hour delays and back-ups on remote stretches of highway.

A well-stocked kit should include a blanket or sleeping bag, clothing layers, hand warmers, a flashlight or headlamp with extra batteries, first-aid kit, food items, water bottles, shovel, battery jumper cables, flares, and matches.

Traveling Safely with Ski & Snowboard Gear

While traveling, skis and snowboards should not be loosely stored inside a car. In case of a skid, quick stop, or collision, heavy gear can injure occupants. Instead, use a roof-mounted ski rack carrier or cargo box—Yakima®, Thule®, and Inno® are the three top brands—to safely secure gear while driving.

SUVs and trucks can more safely stow skis and boards in their rear cargo areas, and short youth skis can also be stowed in a trunk or rear hatch.

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Originally published as “Getting Your Ride Ready for Winter Driving” in the October-November 2017 issue.

[Updated: Dec. 2021]

Read 3 Ways To Plan for Safe Winter Driving.

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