This document provides tips for safe winter driving. It discusses preparing your vehicle for winter by checking things like the battery, tires, and windshield wipers. Drivers should keep essential items in their vehicle like blankets, food, jumper cables and abrasive materials. When driving, it is important to allow extra time, follow weather updates, and let others know your route and estimated arrival time. Basic winter driving techniques are also covered, such as steering into skids and knowing how to brake on different road conditions. The document stresses slowing down, increasing following distances, and designating a sober driver. It warns drivers to get off the road immediately if bands of snow start moving across in front of the vehicle.

1. Safe Winter Driving
Information Compiled
From The NHTSA and
OSHA

2. Winter Driving is Hazardous
• Winter driving can be hazardous and scary, winter
storms tend to get a lot of snow and ice.
• Additional preparations can help make a trip
safer. It can also help motorists deal with an
emergency.
• This Power Point provides safety information to
your Employees and their families in order to
help prevent motor vehicle injuries and accidents
due to winter storms.

3. The three P’s of Safe Winter Driving:
• PREPARE for the trip.
• PROTECT yourself.
• and PREVENT crashes on the road.

4. PREPARE
• Maintain Your Car: Check battery, tire tread,
and windshield wipers,
• keep your windows clear, put no-freeze fluid in
the washer reservoir, and check your
antifreeze.

5. Keep in Your Vehicle
• Have On Hand: flashlight, jumper cables,
abrasive material (sand, kitty litter, even
• floor mats), shovel, snow brush and ice
scraper, warning devices (like flares) and
• blankets. For long trips, add food and water,
medication and cell phone.

6. Plan Your route!
• Plan Your route: Allow plenty of time (check the weather and
leave early if necessary if the weather is to bad consider
postponing the trip until the weather clears)
• Carry maps and directions don’t rely solely on your GPS
Navigation System. Tune into the Weather Stations on your
radio and get constant updates.
• Let others know your route.
• Check in periodically and give others to the best of your ability
your location at the time of the call and your projected arrival
time.
• Once you have arrived call and let everyone know that you
made it.

7. Practice Cold Weather Driving!
• During the daylight, rehearse maneuvers slowly
on ice or snow in an empty lot.
• Steer into a skid. (Not Away From It!)
• Know what your vehicles brakes will do: stomp on
antilock brakes, pump on non-antilock brakes.
• Stopping distances are longer on water-covered
ice and ice.
• Don’t idle for a long time with the windows up or
when the vehicle is in an enclosed space.

8. PROTECTYOURSELF
• Buckle up it’s the Law.
• Use child safety seats properly.
In Texas up to 4’9” in Louisiana 6yrs or 60lbs
• Never place a rear-facing infant seat in front of
an air bag.
• Children 12 and under are much safer in the
back seat.

9. PREVENT CRASHES
• Drugs and alcohol never mix with driving.
• Slow down 10 mph or more under the speed limit
is recommended and increase the distances
between cars.
• Keep your eyes open for pedestrians walking in
the road.
• Avoid fatigue – Get plenty of rest before the trip,
stop at least every three hours,
• and rotate drivers if possible.
• If you are planning to drink, designate a sober
driver.
• Pay attention to winter weather Road Signs.

10. PREVENT CRASHES (Cont.)
If the Road in front of you begins to look like bands
of white sand moving across the road in front of
you:
It is time to get off the road immediately!

11. PREVENT CRASHES (Cont.)
Once the road is covered in Snow
and looks like this:
It is Often to Late!

12. In a slide?
• Don’t Panic!
• Steer into a skid. (Not Away From It!)
• Know what your vehicles brakes will do: stomp
on antilock brakes, pump on non-antilock
brakes.

13. Stopped, Stalled, or in an Accident?
• First: Stay in your car (if possible and safe to do
so), don’t overexert, put bright markers on your
antenna or windows and shine the dome light or
your flashlight if possible.
• Call 911 or OnStar (if equipped)
• If you run your car for warmth, ensure the
exhaust pipe is clear (Exhaust Asphyxia)
• run it just enough to stay warm and shut the car
off once warm. It could be awhile for help to get
to you. Conserve your fuel.

14. Thank You!