With winter weather finally making its way to Mississippi, Richard Schwartz and Associates of Mississippi wants citizens to be prepared. We have compiled a list of safe driving tips that families can use to be safe on the roads this season.

1. Do not use cruise control. Using cruise control when there’s ice, sleet, or water on the roads is incredibly dangerous. Avoiding the use of cruise control in wet conditions is one way to avoid a serious hydroplaning accident.

2. Avoid warming up your vehicle in an enclosed area. It is customary for people to warm up their vehicles in the garage without opening it. This can actually be fatal because all the gases from your cars exhaust will build up in the confined space. Always warm up your vehicle with the garage door open or in the driveway.

3. Maintain tire pressure. Driving a vehicle with uneven or low tire pressure can be especially fatal in the winter, as it makes a vehicle more likely to hydroplane on ice or sleet. Routinely check your tire pressure always, but especially in the winter to drive safely.

4. Try to keep a half tank of gas or more at all times. In a rough economy, this can be a difficult one. However, keeping a half-tank or more in your vehicle at all times can help prevent your gas lines freezing and your car becoming immobile.

5. Always wear your seatbelt. This rule is true for ANY time you’re driving. Wearing a seatbelt drastically reduces the chances of injury or death in a serious car accident. Buckling up is the law and can make all the difference in a car accident.

At Richard Schwartz and Associates of Mississippi we understand the risks of driving. Even though Mississippi winters can be mild, you never know when you’re going to run into a patch of ice or sleet on the road. Follow our tips, and protect yourself from serious car wrecks today.