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Vehicle Safety

Although South Carolina typically does not see many winter storms, it’s important to be prepared for potential icy or snowy road conditions. We ask motorists to familiarize themselves with the resources below and know what to expect in the event of a winter storm. 

Make Sure Your Car is Winter-Ready

Before a winter storm occurs, it’s important to inspect and service your vehicle so that it is equipped to handle any upcoming winter weather, safely.

At a minimum, make sure the following areas of your vehicle are in good working order:

  • Battery
  • Windshield wipers
  • Tires
  • Brakes
  • Lights
  • Heating and defrost

Defrosting Your Vehicle

Ice or frost on your windshield, windows, and mirrors can obstruct your view and make driving hazardous for you and other motorists.

Before getting behind the wheel, take a few minutes to defrost your vehicle by turning on the heat. You can also apply one-third cup of cold/cool water and two-thirds cup of rubbing alcohol to your windows to quickly and easily defrost the glass.

Remember, clear (your windshield) before you steer! Not only does it help you see the road ahead, it’s also the law (SC Code of Laws Section 56-5-5000).

Buckling Up Small Children

Heavy layers, such as winter coats, can prevent your toddler’s car seat and seatbelt from fitting properly. Instead, clothe your child in thin, warm layers of clothing so that their harness fits securely and safely across their chest. You can then add a blanket over your child and the harness to help ensure they stay warm.

Prep Your Winter Weather Emergency Kit

Get ahead of winter storms by creating a winter emergency kit for your vehicle.

These are a few items that will help you in the event of a roadside emergency in the colder months.

  • Jumper cables
  • Flares or reflective triangle
  • Ice scraper
  • Car cell phone charger
  • Blankets, gloves, socks, and hats
  • First aid kit
  • Flash light with extra batteries
  • Cat litter or sand (for better tire traction)

For more information on preparing your vehicle for emergencies, visit Car Safety | Ready.gov.

Driving Safely in Snow and on Icy Roads

Winter conditions call for a different kind of driving than normal weather - slower speed, slower acceleration, smoother steering, and slower braking. We encourage everyone to stay off the roads until inclement weather has passed. However, if it is absolutely necessary to travel during a winter storm, follow these helpful tips below. 

Slow down for wet, snowy, or icy conditions. You will be more likely to maintain control of your vehicle at lower speeds. Slow down when approaching intersections, off-ramps, bridges or shady spots. These are all potential problem spots for black ice, which is a thin coating of clear ice that can form on the pavement surface that may be difficult to see, especially at night.

Increase your following distance and leave plenty of room to stop. You should allow at least three seconds of following distance between your vehicle and the vehicle in front of you.

Large commercial motor vehicles can take up to 10 times longer to stop when driving on snowy roads. If you are driving a large CMV, maintain at least a 15-second following distance between your truck and the vehicle in front of you.

Avoid excessive actions while steering, braking or accelerating to lessen the chances of losing control of the vehicle when you’re driving on snow, ice or wet roads.

Braking early and gently will help you avoid skidding.

If you have anti-lock brakes (ABS), press the pedal down firmly and hold it. If you don’t have anti-lock brakes, gently pump the pedal.

If you are driving a large commercial motor vehicle, your engine brake could cause your drive wheels to lose traction. Turn off the engine brake in wet or slippery conditions to prevent losing control.

Avoid using cruise control in winter driving conditions.

Don't assume your vehicle can handle all conditions. Even four-wheel and front-wheel drive vehicles can encounter trouble on winter roads. If your vehicle is equipped with Electronic-Stability Control (ESC), make sure it’s turned on. ESC will assist you in maintaining control of your vehicle if it loses traction. Keep your lights and windshield clean and turn on your lights to make you visible to other motorists.

Be especially careful on bridges, overpasses and infrequently traveled roadways, which tend to freeze first. Even at temperatures above freezing, if the conditions are wet, you might encounter ice in shady areas or on exposed roadways like bridges. Be aware that road conditions are constantly changing.

You can check the status of the roads near you to ensure there aren’t any collisions or hazards caused by winter weather on SCDOT’s website - https://www.511sc.org/.

When driving in adverse weather conditions, look farther ahead in traffic than you normally do. Actions by other vehicles will alert you to problems more quickly, and may give you a split-second of extra time to react appropriately.

If Your Vehicle Starts to Skid

  • Take your foot off the accelerator.
  • Counter steer - Steer in the direction you want the front of the vehicle to go. For example, if the rear of your vehicle is sliding left, gently steer left into the skid. If it’s sliding right, gently steer right.
  • If you have standard brakes, pump them gently.
  • If you have anti-lock brakes (ABS), do not pump the brakes. Apply steady pressure to the brakes. You will feel the brakes pulse -- this is normal.

If You Get Stuck 

  • Do not spin your wheels. This will only dig you in deeper.
  • Turn your wheels from side to side a few times to push snow out of the way.
  • Use a light touch on the gas, to ease your car out.
  • Use a shovel to clear snow away from the wheels and the underside of the car.
  • If available, pour sand, cat litter, gravel, or salt in the path of the wheels, to help get traction.

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