Winter is Coming - Follow These Safety Tips When Driving in the Snow

Follow these winter driving tips from Rick's Camaros to stay safe during snowstorms, ice storms and other wintry conditions.

Winter weather waits for no one. Snowstorms don't care whether you have to work or not. Sleet gives zero craps about the condition of your tires. The bottom line is that winter weather is some of the most dangerous weather to drive in, because of the higher number of hazards it presents.

Winter weather is also the hardest for meteorologists to predict. While they are confident about rainfall, snow is one of the most difficult things to forecast. That means we can easily get surprised with snow on the ground in a matter of hours. If we can't drive safely through snow or ice, we may not make it home.

Further complicating matters is if your vintage Camaro is your daily driver. Earlier models are not equipped with advances such as anti-lock brakes or front-wheel drive. That means you need to be able to handle the wheel when the ground is slick.

There are plenty of preventive measures to take on in advance of snow, such as tires for winter, winter wiper blades and other ways to winterize your car. but for now, we'll keep focus on the act of driving in the winter:

• Diagnose how cold it is, what is falling down and what is on the ground. While they are both slick, snowy roads have a different feel from icy roads. If the weather is extremely cold and the snow is dry, you'll find roads a tad more forgiving. But temps hovering near the freezing mark of 32 degrees, and a lot of moisture, can lead to icy conditions.
• Stay alert as you are driving. It can be hard, and you may need to take breaks, but being ready for responding is absolutely critical. One of the main reasons you see cars and trucks in ditches during snow is because of inattention. So no checking your phone - both hands on the wheel.
• Slow down and increase your following distance. It is harder to stop on slick roads.
• Pump the brakes. This is important for two main reasons: It prevents your wheels from locking up and it helps prevent fishtailing. And speaking of fishtailing:
• If you find yourself fishtailing, keep your foot off the brake and steer into the turn. This tip does not feel natural - our first instinct is to slam those brakes. But that is exactly what will send you into a ditch. Just turn into the skid, and pump the brakes once you straighten out.
• Keep your gas tank as full as possible. If taking longer trips, fill up at about the half-full mark.
• If you are behind a snowplow, follow behind it AT A DISTANCE. The road will be pretty clear behind it, of course, but you may get covered by what it kicks up. If you must pass, use caution.
• When going uphill, try to build up speed during a flat stretch before the hill. Don't gun your engine half way up, because it may cause your wheels to spin without traction.
• Don't stop, if you can avoid it. This is especially handy at traffic lights. If you time things strategically, it is better to keep moving slowly, than stopping then starting again. Inertia can sometimes be your friend in winter weather.

Let Rick's Camaros help you with preparing a car for winter. From snow tires to winter wiper blades, we can help you find the best tools for winter driving safety.