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Driving instructors provide winter weather driving tips

Posted at 6:15 PM, Jan 05, 2017
and last updated 2017-01-05 20:15:26-05

LAKEWOOD, Colo. - There are a lot of people moving to Colorado, and some of them are coming from warm-weather climates, where winter driving is not a  concern.

Bob Lightfoot, a driving instructor at Learn to Drive in Lakewood, said we could all learn a little something about how to drive better on snow and ice.

Lightfoot said the first thing drivers need to remember is to clear off your vehicle's windows, hood, and roof, because maintaining a good visibility is the number one safety precaution a driver can take.

Once on the road, Lightfoot said keeping a safe distance from the vehicle in front of you is key to leaving yourself enough time to stop on slick streets.

“Two to three seconds following in ideal conditions. Now in less than ideal conditions like this, where its slick, you want to add a second for all of the different factors," said Lightfoot.

Lightfoot also said it’s important to find the traction spots on the roads.

“You want to be probably in loose stuff. However, if you're going to try to start or stop or start from a stop, you don't want loose stuff necessarily, because it may take you a while to get moving," said Lightfoot.

When stopping your vehicle, there are two types of braking systems Lightfoot said.

Drivers of cars with anti-lock brakes want to hold their brake pedal down firmly and the car will pulse the brakes for you, Lightfoot said.

Other vehicles without this technology, will require the driver to pulse the brakes manually, helping the vehicle come to a safe stop without sliding off the road Lightfoot said.

Most of all, regardless of technology in your vehicle, Lightfoot said common sense is the biggest factor in safe winter driving.

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