Many students at De Soto High School drive, or are beginning to drive, to school. However, many student drivers don’t know how to prepare for bad weather during the winter season. Here are a few safety tips to help all drivers prepare for inclement weather.  

Drivers have to be extremely careful in bad weather. The National Safety Council advises that before you even leave the house there are a multitude of safety precautions to take . A cardinal rule when driving is that if you feel unsure, wait it out and see if the weather improves. Once the decision to travel is made, there are a few preparations to be made. Make sure that all the mirrors of the car are cleaned and that all snow is off of the car. Sophomore Brooke Mermis truly believes in the importance of making sure her car is road safe.

“I always clean every window of my car, including my side mirrors, because I want to ensure that even if I don’t know if anyone is in front of me or behind me I can still see everywhere because honestly if you get into an accident you never know what could happen,” Mermis said. 

Preparation before leaving is important but preparation in the event of a crash or stranding is just as important. AAA advises all drivers to carry a cold weather safety kit. This should include items such as extra warm clothes and accessories, a flashlight, a glass scraper, food, and water. Sophomore Gracyn Speck keeps a smaller version of this kit. 

“I keep a warm blanket and a winter coat in the event of a crash to make sure that I don’t get cold waiting for help,” Speck said. 

While preparation is a key aspect to being safe in wintry weather, another vital skill is knowing how to avoid a crash. The National Safety Council recommends that while driving, drivers should avoid using cruise control, steer in the direction of a skid as opposed to away from it, and avoid slamming the gas pedal or brake pedal. Senior Carson Miller finds that many dangers can be hidden in wintry conditions. 

“Oftentimes drivers see snow and do not think about the layer of ice underneath. Unfortunately, that layer is in fact extremely dangerous,” Miller said. 

Sometimes accidents happen and every driver should know what to do in the event of an emergency. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration suggests that in the event of an emergency the driver should stay with their car and out of the elements, make sure that lights are on so that the car is visible, and to be mindful of carbon monoxide poisoning by only letting the car run periodically.  

While nobody enjoys driving in the snow, sometimes it is necessary. The most important thing is to make sure that you are prepared for all situations and that you are extra cautious when driving in wintry weather.