Michigan Car Insurance

How Winter Weather Affects Drivers’ Safety in Michigan

It’s just common sense that severe winter weather can cause traffic accidents, but many people are unaware exactly how many crashes are caused in Michigan each year by winter weather. According to the state government’s michigantrafficcrashfacts.org, fog and/or snowy, icy or slick roads cause at least 27,330 crashes annually, or 9.7% of all traffic crashes in Michigan. These winter weather conditions cause 61 fatal crashes each year, or 7% of all fatal crashes in the state; 4,145 injury crashes occur each year as a result of severe winter weather, which represents more than 7% of Michigan injury crashes in a typical year.

The winter weather threat is made worse by the fact that many drivers in Michigan are driving uninsured vehicles. Much of this is due to the high costs of insurance and responsibility fees assessed in Michigan. According to mlive.com, “In 2007, an estimated 16% of motorists were driving without insurance. Given insurance industry studies between that and joblessness, the percentage that is uninsured is now probably closer to 25%.”

If you’re driving in Michigan this winter, it’s a good idea to know what weather threats to look out for and how to avoid crashes.

One of the biggest challenges of winter driving is visibility. Windshield wipers will play a major role in your road safety during the winter months, so be sure to make sure that they are in good condition. To improve your visibility and avoid an icy windshield, fill your car’s windshield cleaner fluid tank with an anti-freezing cleaning solution.

Your windshield itself also plays a major role in visibility, so clean the inside of the glass to avoid glare, and keep an ice scraper in your car for clearing snow and ice from the front and back windshields.

Another barrier to visibility comes from your headlights. You’ll be using them more during the dark, cloudy, and foggy winter days, so check their effectiveness and change the bulbs if necessary. Also remember that salt and mud on the roads can coat your headlights, so carry some rags or an old towel to wipe them off if they become dim from dirt and debris.

Next to visibility, slick roads are the most hazardous condition you’ll face during the winter. You cannot change the roads, but you can ensure that your tires have the proper amount of tread on them and are properly inflated. Helping your tires adhere to the road will help you avoid a crash.

You should also be prepared in the event that you do have a crash, run off the road into a ditch, or find yourself stranded behind another wreck. Carry a change of warm clothing in your car, and keep food and water in your trunk in case you’re forced to spend a few hours in your car. A flashlight, blankets, and your cell phone are also good to have on hand in case of a being stranded.

One of the best ways to avoid getting stuck in your car during winter weather is to ensure that your car is in prime working condition. Check the oil and have it changed if necessary. Check and top up your radiator coolant/antifreeze. Make sure your battery is well-charged and in good condition. Have a mechanic check any odd noises or anything that “doesn’t feel right” in your car so you can be sure that you’re safe to drive in the winter or any other time.

And finally, you should practice safe driving, which can be different on winter roads. First, stay far back from other drivers. You should stay much farther away from the car in front of you than you feel is necessary in case that driver should skid or crash. In winter conditions, especially, it is easy for one crash to become a pileup. Keeping your distance will insure you do not become part of a car sandwich.

Be especially careful in approaching stoplights and stop signs, as well, and brake very early and very gently. Sharp turns or sudden stops can lead to skidding and sliding on icy roads. Even on roads that do not appear slick, water and ice can build up invisibly. Always assume the road is slick if the conditions are right for slippery pavement.

You do not have to become one of the more than 27,000 drivers who crash during the winter in Michigan, and you certainly do not have to become one of the fatalities.

One more tip: If you do not have car insurance at this time, the coming winter is a good reason to look into getting your car insured, and if you do have car insurance but are not happy with your policy, now is always the best time to investigate changing to a new, more affordable policy with better features.