24% of all weather-related vehicle accidents occur on snowy, slushy, or icy roads, according to the Department of Transportation’s Federal Highway Administration.
A bad winter accident can mean losing time from work, paying for high cost of repairs, or even worse, severe injuries that can affect you long term.
Master these winter driving safety tips techniques and lean on your union for potential accident support, to protect yourself and your livelihood.
Essential Winter Driving Techniques
- Practice Smooth Control: On icy surfaces, any sudden movement can make you slide. Maintain a slow, steady pace and avoid quick, abrupt movements that can break tire traction and reduce your ability to control the vehicle.
- Pay Close Attention: Be a proactive observer of the road. Is the snow fresh and soft, or is it ice underneath? Assume any clear, wet-looking surface is Black Ice.
- Increase Space, Gain Reaction Time: In poor conditions, the stopping distance increases dramatically. Add significant distance between your vehicle and others. This gives you extra seconds to respond safely and under control if another driver makes a mistake.
- Exercise Extreme Caution Near Maintenance Vehicles: Snow plows and salting trucks are performing essential work, but they pose unique hazards. Give them lots of room. These large, slow-moving vehicles make wide turns, stop frequently, and can unexpectedly block your view with sprays of snow and slush.
- Identify High-Risk Zones: Be aware that certain road structures freeze sooner than the surrounding asphalt. Be extra careful when driving over bridges, elevated ramps, and heavily shaded sections of road. These are prime spots for hidden ice to form.
Accident/Injury Support for CC 175 Members
Following these safety protocols significantly reduces your risk, but accidents can still happen. As an CC 175 union Legal and Personal Protection Plan member, you’re covered for accident protection.
Our network of experienced attorneys specializes in car accident cases and can provide expert legal support for CC 175 members. We can offer guidance on injury claims, insurance claims, vehicle damage, and other accident-related issues.
Tap below and submit a form or call us at 332-239-2667.
