North America, Europe and North Asia have been affected by severe winter weather. Snow, ice and especially “black ice” on the roads make them dangerous. I have 19 tips to help you stay safe while driving in winter weather.
According to the National Weather Service, severe winter weather has arrived. During the past 72 hours, the Denver area and the northeast of the country received 6-24 inches of snowfall, significantly impacting both areas. There are more predictions of snowfall, cold, and icy roads during the winter season, making winter driving road trips extra dangerous if you are not prepared.
Here are my top 19 tips for your winter driving trips, whether in a rental car or your own vehicle.
Before driving in winter weather, you should understand its challenges, pay attention to weather forecasts, and make sure your vehicle is winter-adapted.
Understand the challenges of winter season:
It is dangerous to drive during hailstorm, snow and ice. You don’t want to try those rabbit starters. You have to remember that it takes a lot more stopping distance in snowy, icy or simply wet conditions. When temperatures are at and below zero you should always be prepared for “black ice”, a thin, transparent, almost invisible layer of ice on the road surface that allows the black road to show through. It is formed by rain or snowmelt/slush on cold road surfaces, especially bridges. If black ice conditions are present, drivers should assume it is there.
Pay attention to the weather forecast at your destination and on your route:
Don’t hesitate to change your plans depending on weather conditions.
Make sure your windshield wipers are in working order:
They need to sweep freely and properly follow the contour of your windshield, without creating any streaks.
Make sure your windshield washer reservoir is full of “de-icer” fluid:
Top off the de-icer from the reservoir so you have enough fluid to clean your windshield as needed.
Make sure your car has a snow scraper:
If not, buy one.
Don’t overestimate your car’s braking ability. All cars have four-wheel brakes. A four-wheel-drive vehicle can get you out of snow drifts better than two-wheel-drive cars, but it can’t help you brake faster on slippery highways.
Know your vehicle’s braking capabilities:
Many four-wheel-drive vehicle drivers believe they have an advantage on ice and snow. they do not. All cars, four-wheel-drive, all-wheel-drive, and front- and rear-wheel-drive, have four-wheel braking systems.
The “3-second rule” is not enough in winter:
All drivers must follow the “3-second rule” in dry weather. This means there must be at least 3 seconds of driving time between you and the vehicles in front of you. In wet weather, especially snowy weather, you will need to stay well behind the vehicles in front of you.
Make sure your tires have enough tires and are properly inflated to ensure they will brake as well as possible on snow and ice.
Make sure your tire tread is more than enough:
Tire Rack advises drivers expecting to encounter snow-covered roads that all vehicles should have at least 6/32″ (0.5 cm) of remaining tread depth on their tires. Tires need sufficient tread depth to compress snow into their grooves and release it when rolling to provide the necessary vehicle traction and maneuverability. Even if you are renting a car, check tire depth.
Make sure your tires are properly inflated:
Make sure all the tires on your car are properly inflated. Include your spare tire in the inspection, whether it’s a full-size spare or a donut/space-saver. When properly inflated, tires are safer and less likely to deflate at high speeds. Improperly inflated tires increase stopping distances, take longer to slide on wet surfaces, and are less able to prevent a vehicle rollover.
Make sure your car has a spare tire and that it is properly inflated. Make sure you also have a fully functioning jack system, and know how to use it.
Speaking of spare tyres:
Never assume that your rental car has excess luggage. Make sure your car has extra luggage and is properly inflated. I never recommend renting a car that relies solely on a tire inflator kit. Inflator kits cannot repair large punctures or sidewall damage. Earlier this year a reader wrote to me about his driving trip to Monument Valley. Its sidewall got punctured on the way. His rental car only had an inflator kit. It took him five hours to get a flat-bed tow truck. The drive to the garage took an additional three hours. Upon arrival, the garage was locked. He and his family had to stay overnight in a nearby motel. Had there been any extra luggage in the car, he would not have had to lose the day.
Make sure your car has a complete, working jack system:
To use the spare tire, you will need a jack assembly in your car. Make sure it’s there, and that it’s a complete jack assembly. Make sure you know how to use it. Know where you can safely place a jack under the car to change a tire.
Driving an EV? In cold weather its battery capacity is less, which means the range is less.
Electric vehicles (EVs) have battery limitations in cold weather:
When temperatures drop to 20°F (-7°C) or lower, EVs can lose 30 percent or more of their available power. This is due to the effect of cold temperatures on battery chemistry and the increased use of electricity to heat the EV’s interior and/or run the windshield and window defroster. This means you’ll lose a lot of the EV’s range. Make your charging decisions accordingly. In cold weather, make sure you know how to use an EV’s preconditioning system to deal with the effects of cold weather on the EV’s battery.
If driving in cold weather make sure your car’s antifreeze level is adequate:
You don’t want the engine to break down due to a lack of antifreeze.
Do not use cruise control on snowy or icy roads:
Cruise control often reacts unpredictably on wet roads if your car slips or slides, so turn it off.
Bring a complete emergency kit with you when traveling during the winter season. Make sure it has a battery jump starter. I had to use it a few weeks ago. Help is unlikely to arrive if you are stranded for long periods of time, so keep your fuel tank at least half full.
Keep your fuel tank at least half full at all times:
You never know when a traffic jam or accident will jam or stop traffic during the winter season. Plus, car problems, like a blown tire, can bother you for hours. If you’re stuck, you’ll need plenty of fuel to stay warm in the winter and to keep your batteries charged to power your lights for safety.
Carry a car emergency kit:
My car emergency kit for winter travel includes a 1000A car battery jump starter, a blanket, water, snacks, a first aid kit, a small LED emergency flasher, and a flashlight.
Bring a fully charged cellphone with emergency satellite capability. Bring a battery-powered pack to recharge it in case of an emergency.
Carry a fully charged cellphone with you in case of emergency:
Whether driving on the interstate or back roads, this is essential. If your cellphone is a smartphone, keep its locator on so friends or family can use an app like the iPhone’s “Find My” as an emergency locator. Make sure they have access to find you. If you’re stuck on the road for an extended period of time, bring a battery pack to recharge your cellphone. This could be your lifeline.
Consider cellphones with emergency satellite coverage:
If you are traveling in areas without cellphone coverage, mostly in the many national parks, forests, and wildlife areas in western states, bring a cellphone with two-way emergency satellite coverage. Messaging, location sending and interactive global SOS capability.
Make sure a third party has your itinerary and driving route:
Tell a friend or family member your itinerary, driving route, and arrival time. If you do not arrive at your destination on time and cannot be contacted, they can contact local authorities and tell them where to find you. Check-in with them regularly.
During severe winter season, it is difficult to drive on roads covered with rain, snow, slush and unseen black ice, amidst hailstorm, snow and freezing rain. This can be dangerous. Driving in winter weather requires common sense and sound judgment. If you’re unfamiliar with winter driving, take special care: driving in snow and on ice requires skill and attention.
Also read:
Mobility-Friendly Travel Guide from the National Council on Aging
Six Christmas dreams for travelers in 2026
After working for several years in corporate America as a chemical engineer, executive, and eventually CFO of a multinational manufacturer, Ned founded a technical consulting company and later restarted his photography business, NSL Photography. Before entering the corporate world, Ned worked as a public health engineer for the Philadelphia Department of Public Health. As a renowned corporate, travel and wildlife photographer, Ned writes about travel and photography around the world, as well as runs photography workshops, seminars and photowalks. Visit Ned’s photography blog and gallery.
