I hate leaving the house in the winter. If it was up to me, I wouldn’t. I’d just stay at home, warm and toasty, with a cup of coffee, my boys, Hubs and my kitchen. That’s all I really need to be happy in life.

Unfortunately, that’s not going to happen. With one boy in preschool, a part-time job, groceries to be bought {how else am I going to make brownies?} errands to run and any of the other million things that need to be done, I can’t stay at home all winter long.

Until, of course, I can convince Hubs to do all of these things for me. That’s probably not going to happen anytime soon.

Living in Wisconsin all of my life, I’ve had…more years than I care to admit…plenty of experience in this area. I’ve learned how to drive safely, keep on my toes and pretty much avoid most winter-mishaps that present themselves every year. How do I do it? Safely, that’s how.

I know, terrible answer. Really, there are a few tips that I remind myself of when the first decent snow touches our roads, and use each day during snow season.

Leave Early.

Like super early. If I have to be someplace across town, a normal 20 minute drive, I give myself at least 30 minutes to get there. Besides giving me that little extra time, it ensures that I don’t feel rushed, which means I’m not rushing around when I drive, not panicked if I catch too many red lights, and overall more focused on the traffic, street conditions and my fellow drivers.

Ignore the Kids.

The kiddo talks non-stop. Every second of every day. At least that’s how it feels. But when we are driving somewhere, and the roads are questionable, I ask him to stop talking. And then when he does eventually start asking me questions again because he can’t go longer than 5 minutes without uttering the word “why” I ignore him. It’s better to ignore my child for 15 minutes so I can concentrate on the road rather than sliding through an intersection because I was too focused on explaining why the sky isn’t blue today.

Put Away the Phone.

I’m not a texter when I drive. Period. It’s just not safe, no matter what the road conditions are. But…I have been know to glance at my phone while I’m safely at a stop light, waiting for it to turn green. I know, still not the best idea. But when the roads are snow-covered and there’s ice hiding underneath, my phone is safely stored next to me. Still within arms reach, just in case I do run into some driving trouble, but I don’t glance at it even once. Not even at a stop light.

Go Slow.

This one seems like a no-brainer, but I see countless cars and trucks zipping along streets that haven’t been plowed yet. Drivers who think they are invincible or who own giant pick-up trucks who think they can safely navigate even the most snow and ice covered streets without any problems. You can’t. Trust me, just because you have a giant car, that doesn’t mean you are safe. Go slow. Give yourself extra time {see tip number one}. And when you drive in traffic, stop sooner, allow more space between the car in front of you, and when you do pass another car, don’t go barreling past.

Fill Up.

Your gas tank of course, especially if you are talking about temperatures that reach below zero. But also your windshield wiper fluid. Discovering that your windshield wiper fluid has run out while you are stuck on the highway, behind a semi that is spitting out dirty, salty water, is not a happy place to be. It’s dangerous, especially if you are driving on less than ideal road conditions to begin with.

Plan Ahead.

Sometimes you can take all of the precautions in the world, but you still find yourself in trouble. It’s going to happen. You can’t anticipate everything, especially when other drivers are involved. So, make sure your car has the necessary supplies should you find yourself in trouble. A warm blanket or two. Extra hats, mitten, scarfs. A basic first aid kit. A cell phone. Some bottles of water, snacks and chocolate aren’t a bad idea either. Just in case you need to keep kids calm and occupied for a little while. The chocolate is for you of course.

Thank goodness winter only lasts about 9 months of the year in Wisconsin. Okay, it’s not really that long, but it feels like it. But if you keep these types in mind, you will have a much safer winter driving experience. For even more tips on driving safely in the winter, whether you are dealing with snow, hail, rain or black ice, check out The Esurance Blog’s Winter Driving Tips.

Disclosure: This is a sponsored post that I wrote while participating in the SocialMoms and Esurance blogging program. For more information on how you can participate, click here.

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