Winter Driving Tips May Save You

Our first snowfall this morning in the Bangor/Brewer area. It's always an interesting time of the year as we New Englanders have to learn to readjust to the slippery driving conditions as the winter months wear on. Just this morning I saw a truck driving too fast heading in the opposite direction. I looked in my rear view mirror and saw he started to lose control a bit but suddenly gained back his traction before things got nasty. If he was driving a lot slower he would have been fine. I'm sure his heart rate increased in that brief moment, and he was telling himself, "Okay, you gotta slow down." And if you're wondering if he was driving 4WD, he was, but it's never a guarantee that you'll stay out of the ditch.

One thing I try to do every year is find an empty parking lot with full of snow and punch the accelerator sending my truck spinning and swerving. I do it a few times just to get use to the feeling. Usually I feel more confident before the next snowfall, but still remain cautious. Having the proper winter tires will also help you stay in control.

It's always the newer, younger drivers that concern me, because as you know, experience is the best teacher.

Here are a few tips from Bridgestone Winter Driving School to help you get in the mindset of winter driving: