Winter driving in Virginia: Safety tips you can use

Virginia is a beautiful state, with plenty of rolling hills and gorgeous scenery — but it’s got a lot of snow and ice in the winter. That can make driving particularly treacherous, especially when you may be doing it in the dark.

What can you do to make winter driving safer?

You can’t do anything about the weather, but you can make sure you’re ready to handle it. With that in mind, follow these tips:

• Get your car checked for any issues. You need to make sure your tires are in good shape, your brakes are working properly, your lights and blinkers are operational and you have a snow-scraper and de-icer on hand.
• Build extra time into your schedule. During the summer months, you may head out the door every day at the last minute, coffee in hand. In winter, rushing can be dangerous. Start adding extra time into your schedule so you’re never forced to hurry on bad roads.
• Clear your car before you drive. Building that extra time into your routine can also make it easier to clear the snow off your car before you drive away. Driving around with a pile of snow on your roof can lead to an accident if it suddenly falls down over your windshield.
• Buckle up and go slowly. This isn’t the time to forget your seat belt. It’s your primary protection in a wreck. You also want to give other drivers (who may not be as cautious as you) plenty of extra space in bad weather.

Despite your best efforts, you can still end up in a wreck. If bad weather and another driver’s negligence leads to injuries, make sure that you take all the right steps to protect your interests and pursue a claim for fair compensation.