Teen Driving Safety: Pass Your Experience Along

By Leslie Silverman

Think of the first time you experienced a whiteout or had to recover from an unexpected fishtail. Now think of what you’ve experienced over so many years of snowy New England driving, and how much you learned after Driver’s Ed! This holiday vacation may present some good opportunities to pass that experience on for your new teen driver. Of course there are the usual snow safety tips they should know by rote:

• Lighten your touch: accelerate and break slowly in the snow for best traction.
• Leave way more room: always anticipate the possibility of black ice or a skid. Leave plenty of space (up to ten seconds worth of following distance is recommended) before that stoplight or intersection.
• Give it time: don’t get stressed out by having to be somewhere at an exact time. Plan for lots of travel time (even double what you would think) so you can be relaxed and drive safely in the snow.
• Prep your vehicle: always clear all snow before departing, especially on headlights and tail lights. Carry an ice scraper, have a full tank of gas (never less than half in winter), plenty of wiper fluid, a flashlight and a blanket for “just in case.”
• Turn into the skid: If the car skids right, go right. It may skid the opposite direction while recovering, so again steer into the direction of the skid. Try not to over-correct.
• Skip the cruise control: in slick conditions, it can interfere with good traction.
• Keep one window open: just slightly cracking one window helps keep your windshield from fogging up. Visibility is key when driving in snow.
• Mind the signs: bridges and overpasses really DO freeze before roadways! Be prepared.

But here are five tips for snowy situations a newer driver might not have experienced yet. Your young driver just might listen to what you have to teach them from your experiences in the same situations:

1. Don’t get freaked out by antilock brake noise. It is loud and crunchy, yes. But it’s helping you maintain control, even if it sounds like the axle is breaking! Keep steady pressure on the brakes even when that grinding noise kicks in. Don’t be tempted to pump them.
2. Snowbanks can clog tailpipes. When you back into a snowbank, snow can lodge in your tailpipe and lead to carbon monoxide poisoning. If you’ve backed up in a snowy lot, check the tailpipe before getting back on the road. It could save your life!
3. Snow camouflages light-colored cars. White cars are really hard to see in the snow. Keep your lights on if you see the flakes flying – no matter what color your vehicle is. Never assume others can see you, and drive defensively.
4. Don’t spin your wheels. Getting stuck happens. First turn your wheels side to side to clear as much snow as possible. Keep a light touch on the gas to avoid spinning your wheels. Still stuck? Try a good traction tool you might not think of: your floor mats! Slip one as far under the wheel as possible, and it may give you just the traction you need to get out.
5. Remember to avoid the temptation of leaving your car. Sure, your teen has heard it a million times: if you get really stuck, stay with your car. But it’s just so tempting to venture to “safety.” Remind your teen of what you know: safety is in your car – stay there! Sure they’ve heard it in Driver’s Ed. But one more reminder from you could help them avoid temptation in the moment it’s needed most.