Tips To Help Floridians Drive Safely In Colder Weather

It’s no wonder that residents of the Sunshine State might not be the most experienced cold-weather drivers. We are never exposed to some of the extreme snowy and icy conditions to which drivers in other states have become quite accustomed. However, Florida can experience cooler weather as well as rain and fog, especially during the winter months of December/January/February, so Florida’s drivers still need to be prepared to drive safely in these types of conditions – especially if they plan on driving out of state during the holiday season, where they will likely run into some wintry weather conditions. Here are some tips to help Floridians drive safely in colder weather!

Check Your Vehicle

Be prepared before your trip—whether long or short—by performing some simple checks on your vehicle. Whenever possible, start with a full tank of gas and top off your vehicle frequently along the way.

If you own an electric or hybrid-electric vehicle, do what you can to reduce the drain on the battery. Generally, lithium-ion batteries have decreased energy at lower temperatures. Most vehicle batteries will use battery power for self-heating in low temperatures. You can minimize battery drain due to heating by keeping your electric vehicle as warm as possible when the temperatures are freezing. The most common way to accomplish this task is to plug your vehicle in at night when it’s cold out, which will keep the battery temperature in the best range.

Ensure your fluid levels, especially your windshield wiper fluid and your antifreeze, are topped off. Your wiper fluid should be rated for cooler temperatures, and you should also see that your coolant meets the manufacturer’s specifications found in your vehicle’s owner’s manual. 

Check your tire pressure to see if your tires need additional air before the trip. When the temperatures drop, so does the tire pressure. So, if you start your trip with already under inflated tires, they will only get worse if you run into colder weather. Improperly inflated tires put you and everyone else around you on the road at risk. When you check their pressure, also be sure to inspect them visually. Is the tread sufficient? Are there any areas of concern? Do you have a spare tire if one becomes necessary?

If it’s been a while since your vehicle has had a tune-up, you may even want to take it to a mechanic before going on your trip. Doing so will give you additional peace of mind that your vehicle is ready for whatever might lay ahead on your trip.

Pack Useful Items

If you suspect you will be heading into wintry road conditions, it can be extremely helpful to come prepared. Before heading out, pack the following useful and emergency items in your vehicle: 

• a snow shovel, broom, and ice scraper 

• abrasive materials such as sand or kitty litter to help your tires gain traction in case your vehicle gets stuck on ice or in the snow

• jumper cables, flashlight, and warning devices 

• a cell phone and charger

• water, food, and any necessary medicine

• gloves, hat, and boots, as well as any other weather outerwear you might want

• heavy blankets to protect from the cold 

Verify Insurance

Before leaving, you should also double-check your insurance coverage. Do you have the right amounts and types of coverage if you were to get into an accident? Is your bill paid up to date? Do you need to add any new drivers? Getting into an accident without insurance or lacking adequate amounts and types of insurance can lead to a lot of headaches and even financial disaster.

Slow Down

In 2020, there were an estimated 119,000 police-reported crashes related to wintry driving conditions. The simplest yet best advice to help Floridians drive safely in colder weather or in any adverse road conditions, including those caused by winter weather, is to slow down. At slower speeds, you have more time to stop or maneuver to react to what is going on around you to prevent an accident. You have more control over your vehicle and are less likely to cause an accident. You will also want to increase your following distance so that you have more time and room to stop if you need to do so suddenly.

Use Caution Driving With Snowplows

While very necessary in states that experience a lot of winter weather, snowplows cause dangers themselves. If you are sharing the road with snowplows, don’t crowd them. Be prepared for them to travel slowly, overlap lanes, make frequent stops and wide turns, and get off the road. If you find yourself behind a snowplow, stay far enough behind it and use caution if you choose to pass a snowplow.

Stay Home

When in doubt, and if you can, the safest place for you to be is indoors at home. Sometimes the winter weather conditions make it so that it’s just not worth the risk of trying to venture out, even if you won’t get to see grandma on Christmas. Doing so can place a burden on emergency services and make it so the people who need to be out (for instance, a nurse driving to work for a hospital shift) can’t get where they are going. So pay attention to the local forecasts and news reports about road conditions and make the best decisions to keep you and your family safe. Alternatively, you can find a better route to take that isn’t experiencing severe winter weather conditions.

Do You Need Help After A Winter Weather Accident?

Even when following these tips to help Floridians drive safely in colder weather and many others, winter weather accidents can still happen. Unfortunately, you can’t control other drivers. If you suffered an injury in an accident, the experienced auto accident attorneys at The Florida Law Group are here to help. We can investigate your accident to determine liability and hold the right parties accountable. We will help you pursue full and fair compensation for your injuries, and you won’t have to pay us any legal fees until we win your case. Schedule a free consultation today with our compassionate and knowledgeable auto accident attorneys.