Cold weather is now upon us. Each winter we see many patients who have been involved in automobile accidents due to changing and hazardous driving conditions. While it is best to avoid driving in icy and snowy conditions entirely, if you must be driving in the snow, plan ahead and allow plenty of time to reach your destination so that you do not feel rushed. Remember that collisions at only 10 mph are considered “High Speed” by Automobile Insurance Companies, and significant injury and damage can occur at these very moderate speeds. If you should be involved in any kind of car accident, schedule an appointment with our office as soon as possible to get checked out, and don’t forget to tell family and friends about us too. Ligaments in the neck can be torn at as little as 8 mph (whiplash injury) and proper therapy and rehabilitation feel good and are necessary if the “victim”’ is ever to fully recover. 

• 1.) Accelerate and decelerate slowly. Applying the gas slowly to accelerate is the best method for regaining traction and avoiding skids. Don't try to get moving in a hurry. And take time to slow down for a stoplight. Remember: It takes longer to slow down on icy roads.
  
  2.) Drive slowly. Everything takes longer on snow-covered roads. Accelerating, stopping, and turning - nothing happens as quickly as on dry pavement. Give yourself time to maneuver by driving slowly.
  
   3.) The normal dry pavement following distance of three to four seconds should be increased to eight to ten seconds. This increased margin of safety will provide the longer distance needed if you have to stop.
  
   4.) Know your brakes; whether you have antilock brakes or not, the best way to stop is threshold breaking. Keep the heel of your foot on the floor and use the ball of your foot to apply firm, steady pressure on the brake pedal. 
  
  5.) Don't stop if you can avoid it. There's a big difference in the amount of inertia it takes to start moving from a full stop versus how much it takes to get moving while still rolling. If you can slow down enough to keep rolling until a traffic light changes, do it. 
  
  6.) Don't power up hills. Applying extra gas on snow-covered roads just starts your wheels spinning. Try to get a little inertia going before you reach the hill and let that inertia carry you to the top. As you reach the crest of the hill, reduce your speed and proceed down hill as slowly as possible. And don't stop going up a hill. There's nothing worse than trying to get moving up a hill on an icy road.