NSC, University of Iowa share winter driving safety tips

The National Safety Council and the University of Iowa – creators of the MyCarDoesWhat campaign – are calling for drivers to hone their winter driving skills before they head out onto slippery and snowy roads. In 2013, 10,780 people were killed in motor vehicle crashes between December and March.

The campaign offers the following tips for driving in wintry conditions:

• Slow down: Drivers need to recalibrate and adjust their driving in the winter. Many underestimate how long it takes to brake and steer on slippery roads.
• Don’t use cruise control when driving on any slippery surface.
• Remember that bridges and overpasses freeze first.

“Driving in snow and ice requires much more focus on the conditions – and to adapt to an ever-changing, slippery environment,” Daniel McGehee, director of the Transportation and Vehicle Safety Program at the University of Iowa, said in a press release. “Technologies like anti-lock braking systems, traction control and electronic stability control can make a big difference in winter driving, but it’s important to remember to take it slow and avoid the roads when conditions are not ideal.”

For more information on in-vehicle technologies, visit MyCarDoesWhat.org.