Winter Driving and Ski Season

Every winter, ski and snowboard enthusiasts flock to their local mountains hoping to shred some fresh powder with friends and family. You'll have tons of fun once you're on the slopes, but getting there could be another story. Consider these driving tipsTrending Safe Winter Driving Tips Driversed.com the next time you drive to your favorite ski resort, or you won't have any shot at catching the first chair.

Hazards You'll Face Driving to the Slopes in Winter

The most dangerous thingTrending Why Can Winter Driving Be So Dangerous Driversed.com you'll have to worry about when driving to the slopes this winter is the weather conditions. Peak winter travel can bring whiteouts of snow, dangerous black iceTrending Dangerous Winter Driving Hazards Driversed.com, and freezing temperatures. Around 24% of weather-related crashesWeather Weather_events Snow_ice.htm Ops.fhwa.dot.gov each year happen on icy, slushy, or snowy pavement. Considering mountains (where ski resorts are usually located) get way more snow than lower elevationsArticles 13476 News, they're a prime location for getting in a wreck.

Any time you encounter any of these conditions, the best things you can do are slow down, increase your following distance, and don't slam on the breaks. It never hurts to have a roadside safety kit with winter toolsTrending How Pack Emergency Winter Kit Your Car Driversed.com as well. 

Tips for Staying Safe on Your Way to Ski

Double Check Your Roof Rack

Most people take off their roof racks in the springTrending Old Car Gas Tips Driversed.com after they're done skiing for the year, so perform an inspection when you're hooking it back up in the fall.

• Make sure the cross members are stable on the roof rack itself. If they're the screw-in type, test each screw to make sure they're completely tightened. If they lock in, give them a good tug to make sure they're still solid.

• Check the hardware that mounts your rack to your cross members to make sure they're also tight.

• Check the locking mechanism that holds your skis or boards in the rack.

For some extra peace of mind, ratchet strap your skis down as well before you hit the road.

Consider Winter Tires or Chains

Winter tires are designed with softer rubber to better grip the road in cold conditions. The tread pattern is deeper and wider as well to provide better traction in snowy conditions. Consider getting a set if you live in an area that sees snowfall all winter long.

If you're traveling across a mountain pass or up a steep road to get to your ski resort, you might need a set of tire chainsResources Auto Central Winterizing Your Car Driversed.com. These chains give you the extra grip you need to make the long, slow journey up the mountain. There are certain mountain passes — like the I-70 mountain corridor in ColoradoSites Csp Files Documents Winter%20Driving%20Requirements%2003.31.2020.pdf Csp.colorado.gov — that won't even allow you to cross without having chains on when the weather is treacherous. Make sure you know how to put them, or you may have to pay a roadside assistant to do it for you.

Book Your Trip in the Shoulder Season

If you don't want to worry about having to drive in the worst that winter can throw at you, consider booking a trip in the shoulder season. Typically shoulder season runs from mid-October til early December and March through May, depending on where you're looking. Not only will rates and crowds be smaller, but the roads should be clear as well.

Print Out Your Directions

Nowadays, you can't find many places without good cell service, but the mountains are one of those last realms. If you aren't familiar with where you're going skiing, consider printing out directions just in case you come across a dead zone and lose your GPS directionsTrending The History Of Driving Technology Driversed.com.

Ensuring a Safe Journey to the Ski Slope

No matter if you're going on a trip to your local slopes or a ski vacation in Colorado, you still have to get there safely. One way you can learn additional tips and tricks to drive safely in any season is by taking a driver's ed course at Drivers Ed Driversed.comDriversEd.com. We design our driver's ed courses to keep you entertained while learning the rules of the road, all entirely online.