How to drive smarter this winter

Here are nine essential strategies for smarter driving on wintry roads. 

Check the weather and travel conditions before heading out and drive accordingly

If conditions are poor, stay off the roads—in truly foul weather, CAA's own emergency roadside service vehicles may not be able to reach you until things clear up.  

Plan your trip in advance

Allow extra time for travel and let others know your route and ETA. 

Turn on lights

Allow extra time for travel and let others know your route and ETA.

Snow and ice can affect your stopping distance

Leave more space than you normally would between your own vehicle and the car ahead of you, and use turn signals well in advance to alert drivers around you.

Focus on smooth braking and steering in slippery conditions

If you jerk the wheel or slam the brakes, your tire treads could lose traction, and you'll start sliding.

Don't crowd the plow

While it is legal to pass snowplows, always give operators room to work to prevent collisions and get roads cleared faster. Plows can impact visibility by scattering loose snow, so it's best to slow down, stay back and wait for the plow to move aside before attempting a pass. Plow operators are trained to move over and let traffic pass when safe.

Pay attention in school zones

Always slow down at intersections and pay special attention in school zones.  

Slow down around emergency vehicles—it's the law.

Move to the far-left lane where possible far-left lane to give operators room to work safely. 

Consider brushing up on your skills at a driving school

Driving educators can teach you smarter driving strategies, like threshold braking, steering techniques and how to get out of a skid.

Get road ready

Get more with these CAA Rewards partners 

Pirelli Tires Always drive with winter tires in snowy weather. Pirelli's technology ensures safety and comfort. Get up to 20 CAA Dollars with the purchase of four Pirelli tires.  

Napa Auto Parts Cold, ice and snow can degrade the rubber in your wiper blades. Replace them every six months at NAPA. Did you know Members save 10% on retail-priced parts and accessories? 

Krown Rust Control Protect your car from all the salt on the road; Members save $10 on Krown Rust Control applications and save 20% on all other Krown products. 

We're here to help

To contact CAA for roadside assistance, call 1-800-CAA-HELP (1-800-222-4357) or send a request through the CAA Mobile App, which you can download for free.