Here in Ohio, we are no strangers to the unexpected weather conditions that can change on a whim. One day it is sunny and 45°, the next thing you know it's below freezing and the roads are covered in snow. Here are some tips to make sure you are best prepared for whatever Ohio weather has in store for us this winter.
Plan Ahead and Be prepared
First things first, before you venture out of your house for errands, appointments, work or anything else, check your local weather. In this day and age, we are lucky to have more than one avenue to collect information from. Tune in to the news on the TV, Radio, and even social media to get a better image as to what’s going on beyond your street. Oftentimes, when we get hit with a heavy snow, residential streets take a while to be plowed. Checking your local sources can give you an idea as to what's going on in your area. If you make the decision to leave your house make sure you have some items in case of emergency. The Ohio Department of public safety recommends the following items be kept with you when leaving the house in inclement weather*:
Ice scraper, small snow shovel, or a broom
An abrasive material like kitty litter or sand, in case you get stuck in snow
Jumper cables
A Flashlight
Blankets
For longer trips, a cell phone charger, water/drinks, food and any necessary medicine
When leaving your house be sure to check your fuel levels, in the winter aim to keep your tank above half full in case you get stuck in traffic or snow.
When in doubt, don’t go out!
Know Your Car
If you’re new to driving in Ohio, one of the best things you can do is familiarize yourself with the snowy conditions. Perhaps you have been driving in Ohio since the blizzard of 1978, we have had relatively mild winters the last several years. In either scenario, if you need to familiarize yourself for your first Ohio winter or just give yourself a refresher, the Ohio Department of transportation* recommends practicing in broad daylight in an empty parking lot. This can help you get a feel for your car and how it may react when stopping, turning, and moving after a stop sign/stop light in snowy conditions. When driving out on the roads be sure to keep a distance from the cars in front of you when coming to a stop. If you are sliding, the Ohio Department of Transportation* recommends; easing your foot off the gas and steering your car in the direction you are trying to go in, stay off of the gas or the brake until you re-gain control of the vehicle.
Now that you have a feel for your vehicle, let's talk about your car itself. Many cars have built in features to help keep you safe when driving in inclement weather. If you are lucky enough to have four-wheel drive on your vehicle, make sure it is engaged before leaving the driveway. Hopefully, we are all aware of the orange tire symbol with an exclamation mark in it, this indicates that your tire pressure may have dropped below the recommended pressure level. If you see this light on your dash be sure to check your car's recommended pressure and refill your tires to that limit. In the winter your tire pressure can drop 1-2 PSI every 10° the temperature drops**. Keeping your tires at the recommended pressure can help ensure you are optimizing your traction and grip while driving in slippery conditions. The tread of your tires is also very important to keep tabs on in the winter months. A tire with half-tread is more likely to see a 14% decline in snow traction, an 8% decline in hydroplaning resistance, a 7% decline in braking on wet surfaces, and a small loss in braking ability on ice***.
Check your Coverages
Lastly, make sure you have insurance coverage that will protect you in the event of an accident. Roadside assistance can be added onto your policy to ensure if you have any type of incident you have peace of mind. Roadside assistance can help if you slide off the road, run out of gas, need a jump and more. This would assist in making sure you are not stranded on the side of the road during a snow-storm. If you do have vehicle issues that may require roadside assistance be sure to stay with your car until help comes, use your hazard lights, and if possible get to a safe space such as a parking lot or a near-by driveway. Next it is important to understand your coverages. In the state of Ohio, it is law to carry at least liability insurance on any and all registered vehicles. What do you get with liability insurance? In simple terms, liability will provide you with coverage for damages you are responsible for to others personal property, vehicles and passengers.
Example: Joan is driving and slides into the back of the vehicle in front of her, Joan has only liability coverage. Joan’s insurance would provide compensation to the vehicle she hit for the damages to their car and any bodily injury to the other car’s driver and passengers. In this scenario, Joan would have no coverage under her insurance for any damages to her vehicle, herself or any of her passengers. How does Joan make sure she has coverage for herself, her passengers and her vehicle?
To verify that not only is the car she hit protected but her car as well, Joan would want to make sure she has full coverage. Full coverage, typically is constituted as carrying Comprehensive and Collision on an auto policy. Comprehensive covers things such as but not limited to deer/animal strikes, vandalism, theft, fire, windshield damage and falling objects. Collision is going to cover your insured vehicle after a collision related accident. Such as, but not limited to, single-vehicle accidents i.e hitting a tree, guardrail or telephone pole, an at-fault accident where you were responsible for hitting another vehicle, and even hit-and-runs on streets or in parking lots.
If Joan carried comprehensive and collision on her policy when she hit the other car, this would ensure that any damages to her vehicle would be covered as well. These two coverages operate on a deductible basis, this means you set an amount, such as $500, in the event that there is a claim you are agreeing to pay the first $500 in damages or labor and the carrier will cover the remainder.
Double check your policy to make sure you have these added coverages and options to make sure you are protected in the event of a claim this winter. Call one of our agents to review your coverages and make sure you are getting the most bang for your buck. We have 5 different standard carriers to shop your rates through to make sure you are optimizing your coverages without sacrificing all of your paycheck. For more information on auto insurance in the state of Ohio, please refer to our auto insurance page.
References:
Definitions of comprehensive and collision provided by progressive insurance:https://www.progressive.com/answers/comprehensive-insurance/ and https://www.progressive.com/answers/collision-insurance/
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