Tips for Driving in Snow: How to Prepare, Drive Smart and Wait Safely
- Before You Turn the Key: Deciding Whether the Trip Is Worth It
- Tires, Visibility and the Car Itself
- Stuck on a Snowy Road: Staying Safe, Visible and Connected Until Help Arrives
- How to Drive in Snow: Speed, Spacing, Braking and Steering
- Bridges, Plows and Whiteouts: Hazards That Surprise Drivers
- Conclusion
- FAQs
In 2023, NHTSA counted an estimated 101,390 police-reported crashes on U.S. roads during snow or sleet. That's a lot of bent bumpers and ruined mornings. The good news is that most snow crashes come down to three things you control: speed, spacing, and tires. And sometimes the safest trip is the one you push to tomorrow. These tips for driving in snow follow the order you'll face them: deciding whether to go, readying the car, driving with care, spotting hidden hazards, and what to do if you get stuck.
Before You Turn the Key: Deciding Whether the Trip Is Worth It
The first of these winter driving safety tips is the least exciting one. If the roads are bad and the trip can wait, let it wait. NHTSA's winter driving tips tell drivers to check weather and traffic reports and put off travel that isn't essential.
The numbers show why. The two agencies below track different categories and years, so read each row on its own. The FHWA rows come from its road weather impact data, built on NHTSA crash records.
Measure | Figure | Source |
Police-reported crashes in snow or sleet, 2023 | Estimated 101,390 | NHTSA |
Fatal crashes in snow or sleet, 2023 | 320 | NHTSA |
Injury crashes in snow or sleet, 2023 | Estimated 22,293 | NHTSA |
Crashes in freezing precipitation (snow, sleet, hail, freezing rain or drizzle), annual average 2019 to 2023 | Estimated 219,942 (18% of weather-related crashes) | FHWA Road Weather Management, from NHTSA data |
People killed in freezing precipitation crashes, annual average 2019 to 2023 | 407 | FHWA |
If you have to go
Sometimes the drive can't wait. NHTSA suggests a few steps that lower the risk:
Leave early, or shift your departure to miss the worst of the storm.
Learn your route ahead of time, even if you use GPS.
Tell someone your route and when you expect to arrive.
Check live road conditions, too. The Iowa State Patrol points drivers to its state 511 system, and most states run a similar 511 service or DOT road map.
Staying home is a real choice, not a weak one. When a storm is already underway, these snowstorm steps for home make it easier to stay off the roads.
Once the trip is a go, the car has to be ready for it. That starts with the four patches of rubber holding it to the road.
Tires, Visibility and the Car Itself
All-wheel drive helps you get moving, but it doesn't help you stop. Tires do the gripping, so most tips for driving in the snow start there. After that come clear glass, working lights, and a kit for the worst case.
Tire checks NHTSA recommends
Cold air pulls tire pressure down. These winter driving tips come straight from NHTSA:
Inflate to the pressure on the driver's door-frame label or in the owner's manual, not the number molded on the tire.
Check pressure when tires are cold (not driven for at least three hours), at least once a month and before long trips.
Keep at least 2/32 inch of tread on every tire, and check the spare too.
If snow sticks around where you live, consider snow tires. NHTSA suggests comparing traction ratings with the Uniform Tire Quality Grading System. Ready.gov adds that you should carry any chains or studs your local area requires.
See and be seen
You need to see the road, and other drivers need to see you. A quick routine before each trip covers both:
Clear all ice and snow from the vehicle before you leave, as the National Weather Service's winter weather safety tips advise.
Scrape the windshield for full visibility, and turn on your headlights on snowy and foggy days, as the Iowa State Patrol urges.
Use winter washer fluid with de-icer, test the defrosters, replace worn wiper blades, and check every light.
NHTSA also suggests keeping the gas tank close to full. Jumper cables, a flashlight, and blankets belong in every road trip emergency kit, and winter adds a scraper, a shovel, and traction sand.
Even with good tires and a full tank, snow can still close a road ahead of you. Here's what to do once you're pulled off safely.
Stuck on a Snowy Road: Staying Safe, Visible and Connected Until Help Arrives
The National Weather Service is blunt about this one: if your car gets stuck in a storm, stay in the vehicle. Massachusetts state guidance adds that walking in a storm can be very dangerous, especially if you lose your way. Your job now is to stay warm, keep fresh air coming in, and keep a way to call and be found.
The safety steps come first
Carbon monoxide is the hidden danger in a snowbound car. These steps apply to gas and hybrid vehicles:
Clear snow from the exhaust pipe, then run the motor about 10 minutes each hour for heat, as the NWS advises.
Open a window a little while the engine runs.
Keep the dome light on, and tie a bright cloth to the antenna or door handle.
Don't overexert yourself digging or pushing.
Massachusetts stranded driver guidance explains why the exhaust matters. Wet or wind-driven snow can plug it and let deadly carbon monoxide into the car, so don't run the engine unless the pipe is clear.
The CDC says carbon monoxide poisoning symptoms are often called "flu-like." They include headache, dizziness, weakness, upset stomach, vomiting, chest pain, and confusion. People who are asleep can die before they notice any symptoms.
Keeping phones, a radio and light running
A dead phone means no way to call for help. Ready.gov's car kit includes a car cell phone charger, a blanket, and a map. The Iowa State Patrol adds a flashlight with batteries, warm clothes, water, and snacks.
A portable power station can help, but know its limits. It doesn't improve grip or braking, and it isn't an engine starter. It's for after you're safely stopped, never for handling while you drive. For that wait, the right EcoFlow DELTA 3 model depends on how many people are in the car and what they need to power.
Matching the unit to your car
If it's just you or one passenger, the job is small: a phone, a weather radio, and a light. For that lighter load, the EcoFlow DELTA 3 Classic fits.
A family car is a different story, with more phones to charge and maybe a heated blanket to run. That bigger load is where the EcoFlow DELTA 3 Max fits.
Using either unit safely: Secure either unit, never operate it while driving, and follow its manual for cold use. Both units list charging at 32°F to 113°F and discharging at 14°F to 113°F, so move the unit indoors between trips. Neither will keep a car warm overnight or replace a call for rescue.
Check your blanket first. Some manuals warn against use with generators, power converters, or inverters, and a power station supplies AC through an inverter. If yours carries that warning, don't use it with either unit.
Example runtime estimates (labeled examples, not promises)
These use placeholder loads. Swap in your own devices' nameplate wattage.
Example setup | Example load | Calculation | Estimated runtime |
EcoFlow DELTA 3 Classic: one phone, a weather radio and an LED emergency light | 20W (example value) | 1,024Wh × 0.85 ÷ 20W | About 43 hours |
EcoFlow DELTA 3 Max: one heated blanket plus four phones | 140W (example value: 100W blanket + 40W phones) | 2,048Wh × 0.85 ÷ 140W | About 12 hours |
The 0.85 factor is a planning assumption for conversion losses. Bring the unit inside between trips rather than leaving it in a cold car.
Digging out, rocking the car, and adding traction under the tires are the first steps when your car is stuck in snow but still safe to move. Of course, the goal is never to need that kit, and that comes down to how you drive.
How to Drive in Snow: Speed, Spacing, Braking and Steering
Driving during snow is about doing everything more gently and earlier than usual. Braking times increase dramatically on snow and ice, according to the Iowa State Patrol. Give yourself room so nothing has to happen fast.
Snow driving skills at a glance
Here's how to drive in snow, one skill at a time. These driving on the snow tips come from federal and state safety agencies.
Skill | What to do | Source |
Speed | Slow down; slick or snow-covered roads make a car harder to control and stop | NHTSA |
Following distance | Leave five to six seconds between you and the vehicle ahead, especially snow plows | Iowa DPS |
Braking with ABS | Press firmly and keep steady pressure | NHTSA |
Braking without ABS | Pump the brakes if the wheels start to lock | NHTSA |
Cruise control | Don't use it on snow and ice | Iowa DPS |
Wet-looking roads | Black ice can look wet but be very slippery, so treat a wet-looking surface as ice | NWS |
Driver assist systems | Learn how they perform in winter conditions | NHTSA |
Skids and hills
When it's snowing, driving at your usual pace is where trouble starts. On a slide or a hill, keep your steering, gas, and brakes smooth, and look where you want to go.
Grip changes from storm to storm, so learning the main types of winter weather helps you read the forecast before you drive. Technique handles most miles, but a few spots on the map deserve extra respect.
Bridges, Plows and Whiteouts: Hazards That Surprise Drivers
Some winter road hazards show up in the same places every storm. Overpasses, exits, and the space around plows top the list, and sudden whiteouts are the other big one. Knowing where trouble waits is one of the most useful winter travel tips for stormy weather.
Exits and overpasses
Exits and overpasses get slick during winter events and need even more braking time, the Iowa State Patrol warns. Start slowing early.
Sharing the road with plows
Plows deserve plenty of room. NHTSA says they move slowly, make wide turns, stop often, and exit often, so stay well back and use caution if you pass one.
Whiteouts and long drives
Whiteouts are harder to plan for. FHWA counts an average of 488 deaths a year (2019 to 2023) in low-visibility conditions. That group includes blowing snow, fog, smoke, and blowing dirt.
On long trips, NHTSA suggests planning stops to stretch, eat, and check your phone. Switch drivers if you feel drowsy, since winter driving takes extra focus.
Sudden bursts of heavy snow and wind can drop visibility in seconds. Snow squall safety for drivers starts with slowing down and turning on your headlights.
Conclusion
The best tips for driving in snow come down to three things: go only when you need to, give the car good tires and clear glass, and drive slower with more following distance. Check your state's 511 site, top off the tank, and keep a kit in the car. If you get stuck, stay with the vehicle and keep the exhaust clear. An EcoFlow DELTA 3 Classic or EcoFlow DELTA 3 Max can keep phones, a radio, and light running.
FAQs
What is the safest way to drive in snow?
Go slower than feels normal, leave five to six seconds behind the car ahead, and brake early and gently. The Iowa State Patrol also says to skip cruise control on snow and ice.
Should I let air out of my tires for snow?
No. Cold weather already lowers tire pressure, so letting air out makes it worse. NHTSA says to fill tires to the pressure on the driver's door-frame label and check them when cold.
How do I brake on snow with ABS?
Press the pedal firmly and hold steady pressure. NHTSA says pumping is only for cars without ABS, and only when the wheels start to lock.
What should I do if I'm stranded in snow?
Stay with your car, since walking in a storm can be very dangerous. Clear the exhaust pipe, then run the engine about 10 minutes each hour with a window cracked, as the NWS advises.
Is it safe to run my car while stuck in snow?
Only if the exhaust pipe is clear and a window is open a little. Massachusetts state guidance warns that wet or wind-driven snow can block the exhaust and let carbon monoxide into the cabin.
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