As we mentioned in our post on virtual travel, winter driving can be very dangerous, especially for senior citizens. Over 100,000 car accidents will occur within the United States every year due to winter driving conditions. For seniors, the risks can be even higher. Seniors often experience more difficulty with hearing and vision, and have slower reaction times. This can add up to a very hazardous winter driving experience! However, many seniors still need to drive during the winter. Visiting family and friends is important, because loneliness is as hazardous to your health as smoking. You may also need to travel to get to work, or buy groceries or other necessities. If you must drive, be safe. Here are some senior tips for safe winter driving that will help reduce your risk of accidents.
When in Doubt, Don’t Go Out
If you are nervous about driving or it feels unsafe, stay at home if at all possible. Stress and fear will add unnecessary risk to your trip. You should avoid traveling unless it is absolutely necessary if:
- Road reports report black ice on the road. This invisible ice is extremely slippery and causes many accidents every year.
- Heavy snowfall is occurring or expected
- Freezing rain is occurring or likely to occur
It’s also a good idea to avoid driving at night, especially in the winter. You will be much less able to see and react to any hazards, ice, or snow on the road.
Drive the Right Vehicle
If you must drive on fresh or packed snow or ice, the right vehicle can make a huge difference in your safety. For the safest driving experience, we recommend an all-wheel drive vehicle with snow tires. Here is a list of the best cars for snow in 2024. Subaru vehicles all feature all-wheel drive (AWD), and consistently make the safest and most capable snow car lists every year. They also have safety features to prevent accidents and protect you if one does occur.
Avoid rear-wheel drive vehicles at all costs during the snow. These perform worst in slippery conditions. Many trucks and some SUVs are rear-wheel drive, so check what you’re driving before getting in the car.
If your car has optional four-wheel drive, make sure you know how to use and engage it, and keep it in four-wheel drive on snow or ice.
Snow or winter tires are also a great idea that will improve your traction. You can choose winter tires with or without studs. Studded tires perform best on snow and ice. However, they are also noisy and will make for a rougher driving experience. Some states also do not permit studded tires. If you won’t be routinely driving in snow or ice and want a more comfortable ride, studless tires are still a better choice than all-weather tires.
Drive Cautiously
Even if you have chosen the perfect vehicle for snow with the best winter tires, you will still need to be cautious when driving on snow and ice. Keep your gas tank full when driving in winter weather, and make sure your tire pressure, antifreeze, and oil levels are good. More good tips for winter driving include:
- Go slow. Keep your speed well below recommended speed limits. When accelerating, press the gas slowly and allow your speed to increase gradually.
- Allow extra time to slow down, and don’t slam on the breaks. It takes longer to come to a stop in slippery conditions, so begin braking earlier than you normally would. Press the brake gently and steadily–never slam on the brakes, even if you have anti-lock brakes.
- Don’t stop on a hill. If you do, you’re likely to slide back down the hill when you try to get going again. Avoid hilly roads if possible, especially if they have stop lights or stop signs.
- Do not use cruise control in slippery conditions. The technology that works to enable cruise control is dangerous on slippery roads.
- Avoid stopping or starting while turning.
- Leave a generous gap between you and the car in front of you.
- Since most modern vehicles are equipped with anti-skid technology, you aren’t very likely to skid, and the advice to “steer into the skid” is no longer necessary. However, if your vehicle does begin to slide out of your control, keep your eyes focused on where you want the car to go. Your driving experience and instincts will usually work to get the car going in the right direction.
- If you do slide off the road and get stuck, call for help. Attempting to get your car out can be dangerous and cause you to get even more stuck.
Consider Private Transportation or Senior Living
As you can see, winter weather can cause treacherous driving conditions, so seniors should avoid driving in winter weather whenever possible, especially at night. However, if you do need to drive, we hope these tips will help you stay safe and sound. Ready to give up driving? Senior living communities offer private transportation that makes your car unnecessary. You’ll never have to drive in the snow again! Tour a community near you to learn more about senior living today.