As a Michigan personal injury law office, we’ve seen more than our fair share of winter car accidents. Snow, ice, and freezing temperatures make this season especially dangerous for drivers. While winter crashes can’t always be avoided, here are several practical steps you can take to significantly reduce your risk and stay safer on the road.

1. Clear Your Vehicle

We’ve all seen those drivers on our morning commutes—the ones who scrape just a small patch on their windshield and hit the road with the rest of their windows still frosted over. Snow is sliding off the roof, their visibility is limited, and their reaction time suffers. Don’t be that driver.

Before you leave, take the time to clear all snow and ice from your vehicle, including the windshield, side and rear windows, mirrors, headlights, taillights, hood, and roof. Yes, it might take a few extra minutes, but it’s essential for safe driving.

Fully clearing your vehicle improves your visibility, prevents snow from blowing into your line of sight, and helps protect everyone, including you, on the road. In Michigan’s harsh winter weather, those few extra minutes can make all the difference.

2. Check Your Tires

When was the last time you replaced your tires? If it’s been a while—or if you can’t remember—it’s time to take a closer look. I know life, especially around the holidays, can get hectic, but it’s important that you make tire maintenance a priority. It is a vital step for ensuring safe winter driving in Michigan.

Start by checking the tread on your tires to make sure they aren’t worn down or “bald.” Adequate tread is essential for traction on snow-covered and icy roads. Next, check your tire pressure. Cold temperatures naturally reduce air pressure, so don’t just check once and be done with it—monitor your tire pressure throughout the winter. Properly maintained tires give your vehicle the grip it needs to navigate slippery conditions.

Finally, in case of emergency, check that you have a spare on hand. Nobody wants to be stranded in the winter cold. If by reading this, you realize you’re at a loss for how to check your tires, check out some helpful tips from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration here.

3. Pack a Winter Emergency Kit

While every vehicle should carry a basic emergency kit—including jumper cables, a flashlight, bandages, a cell phone charger, etc.—it’s especially important to update your kit for Michigan’s winter conditions. Harsh weather can leave you stranded without warning, and preparation can make all the difference.

Consider adding these items to your emergency kit for the winter:

• An ice scraper and snow brush

• Sunglasses to reduce the glare from the sun on snow

• An emergency blanket

• Hand warmers

• Warm clothing such as hats, mittens, and scarves

• Cat litter or sand for traction on packed snow and ice

You never know when a winter emergency may happen, so it’s crucial to stay prepared. And if spring comes and you never had to use any of these items—perfect! It seems it’s usually the times you skip packing the essentials that you end up needing them the most.

4. Check Your Route Before You Leave

Before heading out, take a minute to check your route. Even when drivers take proper safety precautions, accidents and slowdowns are still common on Michigan roads during the colder months. Look for reported crashes, delays, or closures, and plan extra travel time if you need to be somewhere promptly.

You should also check local traffic and weather reports so you know what road conditions to expect. If the weather is severe or the roads are in poor shape, consider postponing your departure to give road crews time to plow and salt. If you need to head out anyways, prepare for a slower driver—and pack your patience.

Being aware of conditions before you leave can make your winter travel safer and far less stressful.

5. Turn On Your Headlights

During Michigan’s long winter months, the sky often stays gray and overcast, making the roads feel dim even during the day. Add falling or blowing snow, and visibility can drop quickly. To help others see you—and to keep yourself safe—always use your headlights properly. Turn them on, and use low beams, in snowy or foggy conditions to minimize reflective glare.

Now, your lights can only keep you safe if they’re functioning properly, so make it a habit to check your headlights, brake lights, and turn signals before you head out. Ensuring your lights are in good working order is a simple but essential part of safe winter driving.

6. Drive Slow and Avoid Cruise Control

In winter weather, the simplest advice is often the most important: slow down. Black ice can form without warning, and even experienced drivers can lose control when traveling too fast. Give yourself extra time to reach your destination—your safety is far more important than arriving a few minutes sooner.

Accelerate gradually rather than hitting the gas as soon as the light turns green. Likewise, brake slowly and steadily to avoid sliding. Sudden movements are one of the leading causes of winter crashes, especially on icy Michigan roads.

It’s also important to avoid using cruise control in snowy or icy conditions. If your vehicle begins to skid, cruise control may try to accelerate to maintain speed, increasing the risk of spinning out or losing control. Turning it off gives you better control and reaction time when the road is slippery.

7. Avoid Accelerating or Braking on Turns

This tip goes hand in hand with driving slowly, but it deserves its own emphasis. Avoid accelerating or braking while making a turn, especially in winter weather. Your vehicle is naturally less stable during a turn, and snow or ice can make that instability much worse.

Sudden acceleration or sudden braking while turning can easily cause your tires to lose traction, leading to skidding or spinning out. Instead, slow down before the turn, maintain a steady speed through it, and accelerate gently once you’re fully straightened out.

In Michigan’s winter conditions, taking turns slowly and smoothly is one of the simplest—and most effective—ways to prevent a cold-weather collision.

8. Be Extra Cautious on Bridges, Ramps, and Overpasses

We’ve all seen the warning signs: “Bridge ices before road.” Take the signs seriously. Bridges, highway ramps, and overpasses freeze faster than regular roads because they’re exposed to cold air from above and below. Unlike standard roads, they don’t have the ground underneath to help insulate them.

Even if the main roads seem clear and well-salted, these elevated surfaces can still be dangerously slick. Approach bridges, ramps, and overpasses with reduced speed and avoid sudden changes in speed.

A few extra seconds of caution can prevent a serious winter accident.

9. Be Patient

This has been said a few times throughout these tips, but yet, it needs to be said again: pack your patience. Winter driving in Michigan can be stressful—snowy roads, slow traffic, and holiday-season pressure all add up. The best thing you can do is stay calm behind the wheel.

Avoid tailgating, aggressive driving, or trying to “push” slower drivers. Road rage and impatience only increase the risk of an accident. Instead, give yourself extra time, keep a safe following distance, and be courteous to others on the road.

A little kindness and patience can go a long way toward keeping everyone safe during Michigan’s winter months.

Conclusion

This list could go on and on—checking your vehicle’s antilock braking system, avoiding bulky coats in children’s car seats, minimizing distractions, and so much more. We may even put together a part two with additional winter driving tips. But for now, we hope these suggestions help you stay safe on Michigan’s roads this season.

Even when you take every precaution, accidents can still happen. If you or a loved one is injured in a winter car accident, call us at (855) 529-6424. Our legal team at MichiganLawsuit.com is here to answer your questions, protect your rights, and help you get the compensation you deserve.

Stay safe out there!