Tips for driving in the snow

A powdery paradise. A beautiful blizzard. A flurry of freshly fallen snow. Sounds dreamy, doesn’t it? In reality, driving in the snow can be a nerve-racking experience if you aren’t prepared. Below are 6 tips below from AAA to keep you safe on the road this winter.

Slow and steady wins the race. Accelerate, turn, and drive overall at reduced speeds to maintain traction and avoid skids.

Leave the tailgating for football games. You should increase your normal following distance from 3 – 4 seconds to 8 – 10 seconds since it takes longer to slow down on icy roads.

Whenever possible, skip the hard braking for a slow, controlled stop. When you must brake, practice braking as smoothly as possible. Keep the heel of your foot on the floor and use the ball of your foot to smoothly squeeze the brake pedal.

Because less distance is required to steer around an object than to stop suddenly, you should steer, rather than brake, at speeds above 25 mph. Keep your hands on the wheel at 9 o’clock and 3 o’clock. After steering quickly in one direction, be ready to immediately steer back in the other direction, to prevent your car from driving off the edge of the road.

Putting the pedal to the metal in order to get up a hill can make your wheels spin. Get some inertia going before you reach the hill and let that inertia carry you to the top. As you reach the crest, reduce your speed and continue downhill as slowly as possible.

Pay attention, period. Even if the road looks clear, slippery snow and ice may be hidden in shaded areas and on bridges. Also, watch out for traffic controls and curves in the road that will cause you to slow down, so that you can brake early and smoothly.

So whether you’re a snow-driving newbie or you grew up in Anchorage, Uber is dedicated to helping keep our riders and drivers safe on the road. So stay safe—and warm—out there!