From Christmas shopping to last-minute grocery trips, there will be plenty of reasons to get behind the wheel this winter. Unfortunately, the ice, snow, and other harsh weather conditions can make driving both difficult and dangerous. If you’re hoping to avoid the need for emergency car towing, use the following tips.

3 Winter Driving Safety Tips

1. Keep Your Distance

When the weather is cold, it’s more probable that the ground will be icy—even if snow isn’t in the forecast. While you might always allow two to three seconds of stopping distance between you and the car in front of you, extend that time to five or six seconds. This enables you to reduce the risk of a collision if your car skids on the asphalt or isn’t able to stop.

2. Avoid Cruise Control

On long trips during the holidays, you might be tempted to use “cruise control” and take your foot off the gas. However, you should never use this setting during the winter, or whenever it's snowing or raining. These weather conditions increase the risk of your tires losing traction, and the car skidding or hydroplaning. If this occurs when cruise control is enabled, the tires will start to spin even faster to maintain your speed, preventing you from regaining control of the car.

3. Watch Out for Snow Plows

During the winter, it’s common to see snowplows on the road, clearing the path for the following drivers. If you see one, don’t drive beside it or right behind it and maintain a safe distance or take a detour. These vehicles will come to frequent stops, make wide turns, and veer off the road, so driving in close proximity will increase the risk of a collision. If you find an opportunity to pass the snowplow, keep in mind that the road will be slippery ahead of it.

If you do need emergency car towing this winter, turn to Goldbeck Towing Service in La Crosse, WI. They have over 60 years of experience helping area drivers stay safe throughout all seasons. Whether you run out of gas or get stuck in a ditch, you can call them 24 hours a day at (608) 781-4869 and receive assistance immediately. Visit their website to learn more about their emergency car towing practices.