Safe Driving Tips to be Thankful for this Holiday Season

Advice for Winter Driving

SACRAMENTO, Calif.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–In anticipation of the Thanksgiving holiday and a predicted wet winter,
the California Office of Traffic Safety (OTS) is sharing this important
message with travelers: drive safely and be prepared for inclement
weather at all times. Thanksgiving is one of the busiest travel times of
the year with the likelihood of an increased number of vehicle crashes
due in part to the influx of drivers on the roads. It also marks the
unofficial start to the winter driving season in California. Nationally
in 2013, more than 300 people were killed in vehicle collisions on
Thanksgiving weekend alone. With a bit of foresight and some careful
planning, you can help eliminate the stress of typical holiday travel
and enjoy this time of year as planned, giving thanks alongside family
and friends.

“Not only are the roads more crowded during the Thanksgiving holiday,
but they can be more dangerous,” said OTS Director Rhonda Craft.
“There’s no better time than now to make sure that your car is in
working order and that you are prepared for any obstacles that you may
face in your travels all winter.”

To help travelers stay safe, OTS recommends the following precautions:

• Make sure your brakes, windshield wipers, defroster, anti-freeze,
  heater and lights are in top condition. Make sure your tires,
  including the spare, are properly inflated and the treads are in good
  condition.
• Visit www.storms.ca.gov
  ahead of any expected heavy storm during this El Niño season. Get the
  latest weather report and check quickmap.dot.ca.gov/
  for current road conditions.
• Buckle seat belts, everybody, every trip. Wearing a seat belt is the
  best defense to prevent injury and death in a crash. That includes
  buckling children into properly installed child safety or booster
  seats.
• Remain alert. Constantly scan the road for brake lights in front of
  you.
• Part of being alert is to minimize distractions, like turning off or
  silencing your cell phone.
• If it’s raining hard, keep your vehicle in the middle lane, since
  water tends to pool in outside lanes.
• Turn on your headlights in rainy, foggy or overcast conditions. Use
  low beams in fog or snow.
• Do not use cruise control during wet or snowy road conditions. Cruise
  control can cause skidding and loss of tire traction in winter
  conditions.
• In rain or snow, first slow down, then increase the following distance
  between you and the car in front. Stopping distances can double in
  rain, triple in snow.
• Never drive through running water that could be deeper than the bottom
  of your vehicle.
• In the event you find yourself hydroplaning or skidding, remember the
  following:
  • Do not brake or turn suddenly. Take your foot off the gas until
    you slow enough to feel traction on the road again
  • Turn your steering wheel in the direction of the skid and as you
    recover control, gently straighten the wheels
  • If you need to brake, do so with light pumping action. If your
    vehicle has anti-lock brakes, then brake normally, because the
    vehicle’s computer will mimic a pumping action

  By planning ahead and following these tips, you can help ensure that
  your Thanksgiving holiday is a safe one. Join us on Twitter at @OTS_CA
  or “like” us at www.facebook.com/CaliforniaOTS
  and keep up with the latest traffic safety information. For more winter
  driving tips, visit www.OTS.ca.gov/OTS_and_Traffic_Safety/Traffic_Safety_Tips/winter_driving_tips.asp

  Contacts

  California Office of Traffic Safety
  Chris Cochran, 916-509-3063
  chris.cochran@ots.ca.gov