Use These Winter Driving Tips To Lower Your Insurance Rate

It's conventional for your insurance company to offer you a rate discount after you've driven for three years without any accidents. If you live in an area with harsh winters, you might be concerned that winter driving will increase your likelihood of being in an accident that prevents you from being eligible for a safe-driver discount. While it's true that winter driving can often be more dangerous, you can take several steps to prepare for inclement road conditions to maximize your safety—and keep you eligible for a rate drop in the future. Here are three tips you can use to conquer winter safely.

Decrease Speed Going Into Corners

While it's common sense to slow your speed when you're about to turn in any weather condition, doing so is especially important when you're driving on snowy or icy roads. Some drivers make the mistake of approaching a corner at speed and then hitting the brakes as they enter it. The result can often be the back end of the vehicle sliding out and the motorist quickly finding himself or herself in a snow bank or, worse, sliding into oncoming traffic. Make a point or lowering your speed on the straight part of the road and then moving slowly around the corner before applying the gas pedal again.

Don't Use Cruise Control

Cruise control can be a handy tool to employ while you're driving on the highway, but it's best to limit this system's use to good road conditions. It's conventional, upon engaging the cruise, to take your foot away from the brake and gas pedals. This means that you'll take an instant longer to react than if your foot was in the usual position, which can be the difference between losing control on a patch of ice and successfully navigating it. As such, it's advisable to avoid using cruise control during winter driving.

Leave Yourself Enough Time

If you're the type of person who runs out of the house in the morning, hops into the car and breaks the speed limit to get to work on time, it's time to change your approach. Winter driving is often slower than summer driving, which means you'll need longer to reach your destination. Additionally, road conditions are anything but conducive to speeding; the manner in which you drive in the summer often won't fly in the winter. Set your alarm clock earlier or make other lifestyle changes that help you get out the door sooner so you can exercise care on the road and be eligible for a safe-driving discount. Talk to an insurance agency like James  Madison Insurance for more information on what safe driving discounts they offer.