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It’s the time of year that New Englanders accept the inevitable: winter is coming.  To help keep you safe on the road this season we’ve rounded up some helpful tips from the folks at BestRide.com.  The most obvious place to start is with the basics like being attentive to your surroundings and identifying conditions further down the road.  The basics also include removing the snow from your car, ensuring your windshield wipers are ready for the season, and using your headlights to see and be seen.  The next step in becoming a safer winter driver is understanding your vehicle.

It’s important to understand your vehicle’s drive system because it is one of the biggest factors in how it handles wintery road conditions.  The four main types of drive systems are four-wheel drive, all-wheel drive, front-wheel drive and rear-wheel drive.  While these all have their own strengths and weaknesses when it comes to winter driving, it all comes down to traction and knowing how your car handles certain conditions.  BestRide.com put together a great video of a Chevrolet Corvette showcasing that even the most powerful rear-wheel drive cars can be driven in winter conditions with quality winter tires.   Wyatt Knox of Team O’Neil Rally School summed it up perfectly when he said, “…Tests have proven that two-wheel drive cars equipped with winter tires consistently outperform all-wheel drive vehicles with all-season tires in winter conditions.”  For instance, many drivers wonder if rear-wheel drive cars are bad in the snow?  The answer: Not necessarily.

Is there anything else you should be doing to stay safe on the road this winter?  Yes.  Being fully prepared for winter driving requires having the right tools if needed.  This essentials list includes jumper cables or a booster pack, warm clothing, a flashlight, traction aid, a snow brush or ice scraper, and a tow strap.  These will help you prepare for the unexpected this winter.  We hope that you’ve found these tips helpful and remember to take extra time and care driving this winter! 

Data provided by BestRide.com’s Ultimate Winter Driving Guide.