Sheriff Kramer's winter driving guide

So you think it would be slick to learn how to drive in the winter, especially if you have not yet had the opportunity to drive on snowy and icy roads. Boundary County Sheriff’s Office typically hosts a winter driving course for the community but had to cancel it this year partly because of the Covid restrictions and also because of other ongoing projects that we are currently working on.

Not to fear, we can still offer some good suggestions to get you rolling (not sliding). First off is checking your vehicle and making sure that it has appropriate tires for winter driving; if you are not sure, stop by one of the tire stores and have them take a look for you. Some “all-season” tires may not work as well as a winter tire, and you definitely do not want to be driving on snow or ice with bald tires.

The following suggestions can be found on websites like AAA and other posts for winter driving.

Be Prepared:

Keep an ice scraper/snow brush in your vehicle.

Make sure you have antifreeze in your radiator.

Have a shovel, and you may want to have a bag of sand or kitty litter to help provide traction under your tires if you slide off the road.

Keep a blanket, warm jacket/ hat, and gloves in your vehicle, should you be stuck in your vehicle for a while, along with something to drink and some energy bars or snacks.

Always keep your fuel tank above the ½ mark.

Keep a flashlight/ jumper cables in the vehicle.

Keep a cell phone charger and keep your cell phone on you sometimes; in an accident, the cell phone, if not on you, can be thrown out of the vehicle or lost inside out of your reach.

Inspect our vehicle:

Tires-wear, and pressure. When temps go below 32, the air pressure goes down, and tires will deflate some. check-off and on.

Good wiper blades

Make sure all your lights work and are not obstructed by snow.

Sufficient fuel

Defrosters are working

Check weather conditions before leaving.

Drive carefully

SLOW DOWN- most accidents happen because drivers go too fast! Remember speed limits are for dry roads, allow extra time and drive slower to give spare time to react.

DON’T DRIVE TO SLOW- going to slow risks being rear-ended or creating swerve hazards for drivers. Driving too slow is almost as dangerous as driving too fast.

ALLOW EXTRA SPACE- increase your stopping distance to allow for time and space between the vehicle in front of you. On slick roads, it will take much longer to stop.

DRIVE SMOOTHLY-sudden movements will cause you to lose control. Drive in a controlled manner.

Brake lightly

Turn carefully

Accelerate smoothly

If you lose control, gently lift your foot off the pedal and steer in the direction that the vehicle’s back end is going.

USE YOUR SIGNALS- You want to give the person behind you as much notice as possible when you are going to turn.

As in any driving- wear your seatbelts, don’t be on your cell phone while driving.

Download the Nixel app for Boundary and Bonner County to keep you updated on any local road conditions or community notices. (nixel.com).