With recent dustings of snow, Huskies have been reacquainted with the ritual of starting their cars far enough in advance to scrape ice and snow off their windows. What Michigan Tech’s Department of Public Safety and Police Services (PSPS) would like to keep in the forefront of students’ minds is that the roads are about to become much more hazardous as we enter the winter season.
According to Michigan Traffic Crash Facts, 35.7% of all traffic accidents in Houghton County in 2024 were due to winter weather. That’s the second-highest rate in Michigan for this metric, second only to Keweenaw County. MTU PSPS Deputy Director and Chief of Police Reid DeVoge pointed out how the seasonal shift takes drivers off guard. “We see an increased amount of accidents when the first snowfall happens, when the ice first starts to form on the roads.”
With heightened danger on the road, DeVoge stresses the importance of proactive vehicle maintenance for winter driving safety. “Making sure it has the appropriate tires for the weather,” is his first tip on keeping your car safe in the winter, and the Automotive Enthusiasts at Michigan Tech (AEMT) agree. “It’s the only part of the car that touches the road,” says AEMT treasurer Aidan Castro as he inspects a Subaru Forester at the organization’s “Winterize Your Ride” event. “We have a whole list here but mostly we’re looking at tires.” Castro also went over how he can tell if a tire is safe to drive on, noting treads with a depth greater than five-thirty-seconds of an inch, before inspecting the vehicle’s washer fluid fill level and battery age.
Castro also mentioned how drivers must change their habits while on snowy roads to stay safe. “You want to pretend you’re driving a big bus even if you’re driving a Honda Civic. Slow on the brakes. Slow to turn. All of that keeps you safe in the snow.” DeVoge added to this, saying, “The number one contributor to accidents in the winter is people just not slowing down.” He gives a nod to the Michigan Department of Transportation’s (MDOT) “Drive Slow on Ice and Snow” campaign.
Even the most die-hard all-wheel-drive enthusiasts will agree with DeVoge that a robust drivetrain doesn’t improve your safety in winter weather. “People can be overconfident because of the type of vehicle they have… but once a vehicle goes into a slide, it doesn’t matter… momentum will take over.” Castro said that “It’s easier to get started in an all-wheel drive car, but all the cars stop the same. They all have the same number of wheels that are stopping.”
DeVoge made some more recommendations regarding winter driving habits, namely route choice. He said, “that if there’s a safer, more flat route to take,” taking it can help you avoid spending a long time recovering your vehicle by sacrificing a small amount of travel time. DeVoge also noted that “near stop signs where vehicles will stop and wait, it’ll ice over because the heat from the vehicle.” Other spots where vehicles most often lose control are on hills and curves. For these, DeVoge urges drivers to heed the recommendations of the yellow speed advisory signs, as “a lot of them are focused on the winter driving.”
Finally, prepping your car with options for recovery is very important. DeVoge said that vehicles driving in winter weather should be equipped with “things like small shovels and other materials that will help you get unstuck.” He also stressed that students should be “making sure they have that conversation, if they’re not aware, with their parents about what type of roadside assistance they have on their insurance,” so that in the worst case, they can call the tow to the rescue.
For more tips on winter driving, DeVoge points students toward the MDOT’s website for great videos and advice to stay safe.
