Whether you’re new to New England, new to driving, or new to your vehicle and area, it’s always good to know the safe driving practices for your state. Driving in New England winters can be quite the experience, with sudden blizzard conditions, piling snow and ice, and risks to your vehicle, whether you’re in it or not. Learn best practices, how to prepare, and the right auto insurance for winters in New England.

Safe Driving in Snow, Ice & Blizzard Conditions

When driving in New England winters, it pays to know how to drive in snow, ice, and low-visibility conditions due to storms, including Nor’easter snowstorms. Here are some basic tips:

• Don’t drive during the worst parts of a snowstorm or at night. Always have your headlights on.
• Leave plenty of room for stopping, look further ahead than usual, and brake early and correctly.
• Once the roads have been plowed, keep in mind that exits generally have less de-icing material. If you’re behind a plow, give them 200 feet and don’t pass on the right.
• Let people know when you’re traveling and expected travel times, allowing for extra travel time.

You can find more tips on winter driving on the Mass.gov website. Curious about driving in rainstorms and flooding? Check out our blog, Driving in Rain and Floods in New England.

Preparing Your Car, Including Emergency Supplies

Beyond driving, other best practices revolve around making sure your car is ready for anything that can be thrown at it. This includes making sure it’s in tip-top shape and stocked for anything New England might throw at it.

Getting a Winter Tune-Up

Get your car checked to avoid winter-related issues, including checking antifreeze levels, ensuring your battery is still good (cold weather can rapidly drain old batteries), and making sure spark plugs, belts, and hoses are all tight. They can also clean out any leaves from autumn.

Keeping Winter Auto Tools on Hand

Make sure your snow chains are in the car, you have jumper cables, and your ice scraper of choice is stowed. The last thing you want is to be away from home when you need any of these items.

Packing a Car Emergency Kit

If your car is caught in a sudden blizzard or immobilized in a car accident during winter, an emergency kit can be vital. Stock it with flashlights, flares, a phone charger, blankets, food, and sand or kitty litter for tire traction. Learn more on Ready.gov.

Proper Car Insurance for New England Winters

While the required MA car insurance does cover liability, personal injury, uninsured motorists, and property damage, the minimums are often below what you need for complete coverage. Also, related to winter driving, there are two places basic auto insurance won’t cover you:

• Collision Insurance covers you when damage is done to your car, regardless of fault. This can be important in situations where there aren’t other parties to cover the cost, such as if you lost control on an icy patch and hit a guardrail.
• Comprehensive Insurance covers damage from things outside your control, often when you’re not in the vehicle. For example, if a tree fell on your car during a snowstorm, this insurance would cover it.

Learn more about these two types of insurance in our blog, Does My Car Insurance Protect Against Snow and Ice Damage?

All of us at Safeside Insurance hope you have a safe and fun winter here in New England. If you need help with your auto insurance, have just moved here, or need a new license plate set, we can help. Get an auto insurance quote in minutes and learn why at Safeside, we believe in the right insurance at the right price. Need more help? Contact us directly or call us at (508) 753-8862 to get started!