Winter driving safety comes into play as cold weather settles in and snow, sleet, and ice become roadway realities. Safety becomes especially important as roads fill with automobiles headed for holiday destinations. In 2024, AAA projected that the year-end holiday season would be one of the busiest on record, with about 119.3 million people traveling 50 miles or more from their homes between December 21 and January 1. Of those travelers, an estimated 107 million were expected to go by car—nearly 90% of all holiday travelers and about 2.5 million more drivers on the road than in 2023.

With so many vehicles sharing the road during the holidays, winter driving safety is not just a good idea. It is essential for getting everyone to their holiday gatherings and back home again, safely.

AAA and its transportation data partner INRIX also anticipated heavier congestion around major metro areas, with travel times possibly increasing by up to 30% on the busiest days before Christmas and New Year’s. When traffic is this heavy and winter storms can move in quickly, winter driving safety becomes a combination of preparation, smart decision-making, and knowing what to do if something goes wrong.

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), and AAA provide winter driving safety steps that can help you get safely to and from your destination throughout the winter months, and especially during the holidays.

The Three P’s of Safe Winter Driving

OSHA and NHTSA promote a simple framework for winter driving safety:

1. PREPARE for the trip
2. PROTECT yourself
3. PREVENT crashes on the road

Each “P” focuses on steps you can take before and during your travel.

1. Prepare for the Trip

Preparation is the foundation of winter driving safety. According to OSHA and NHTSA’s “Safe Winter Driving,” drivers should start by making sure their vehicles and plans are ready for severe weather. Key elements include:

“Maintain Your Car”
Before a long holiday drive, make sure your car is ready for cold temperatures and slick roads. OSHA recommends:

• Checking the battery, tire tread, and windshield wipers.
• Making sure windows are clear (and free of snow, ice, or fog).
• Filling the washer reservoir with a no-freeze windshield fluid.
• Confirming that the engine coolant/antifreeze is at an appropriate level.

These steps help ensure that your vehicle can start reliably, clear the windshield, and grip the road as well as possible—critical elements of winter driving safety.

“Have on Hand”
OSHA also suggests keeping certain items in your vehicle so you are better equipped to handle common winter problems:

• Flashlight
• Jumper cables
• Abrasive material such as sand, cat litter (non-clumping), or even floor mats for traction
• Shovel
• Snow brush and ice scraper
• Warning devices such as flares
• Blankets
• For longer trips: food, water, medications, and a (fully charged) cell phone

These supplies support winter driving safety by helping you get unstuck, stay visible, and remain warm and hydrated if you are delayed.

“Stopped or Stalled?”
If you become stranded, OSHA advises staying in/with the vehicle and not overexerting yourself in the cold (for example, if you try to remove snow from around the tires or try to push the car). You should place bright markers on the antenna or windows, turn on the dome light for visibility, and, if you run the engine for heating, first make sure the exhaust pipe is clear and run the engine only enough to stay warm. These steps can make it easier for rescuers to locate you and also reduce the risk of carbon monoxide poisoning while you shelter in your car.

“Plan Your Route”
Winter driving safety also depends on route planning. OSHA recommends allowing ample time (checking the weather and leaving early if needed), becoming familiar with maps and directions, and telling others your route and expected arrival time.

“Practice Cold Weather Driving”
During daylight hours, drivers can practice maneuvers in an empty lot with snow or ice—such as steering into a skid and “stomping” antilock brakes or pumping non-antilock brakes—to better understand how their vehicle reacts. Drivers should also become aware that stopping takes a longer distance on ice and on water-covered ice. They should also be aware that the car should not idle for long periods with the windows up or in an enclosed space.

2. Protect Yourself

The second “P” in the winter driving safety framework is protecting yourself and your passengers. This means using the vehicle’s safety systems correctly, especially for children.

OSHA and NHTSA’s guidance highlights three key points:

• Always use seat belts, and make sure child safety seats are installed and used correctly.
• Never place a rear-facing seat for infants in front of an (active) air bag.
• Children 12 and under are safer when they ride in the back seat.

These recommendations are standard safety practices year-round but become even more important for winter driving safety, when accidents can increase due to slippery surfaces and reduced visibility.

3. Prevent Crashes on the Road

The third “P” focuses on decisions that directly affect whether you avoid collisions. OSHA and NHTSA emphasize several behaviors that are critical for winter driving safety:

• Never mix driving with drugs or alcohol.
• Drive more slowly and leave extra distance between your vehicle and others (to account for longer stopping distances on snow and ice).
• Watch carefully for pedestrians who may be walking in or near the roadway.
• Fight fatigue by getting plenty of rest before the trip, stopping at least every three hours, and rotating drivers when possible.
• If you plan to drink, designate a sober driver ahead of time.

Each of these actions can make an accident less likely and increase the margin for error when conditions are poor. Together, the Three P’s form the core of on-road winter driving safety.

AAA’s Winter Driving Safety Tips

AAA reinforces and expands on the Three P’s with specific recommendations for winter driving. The organization notes that severe winter weather contributes to hundreds of thousands of accidents and more than 2,000 deaths every winter, and urges drivers to approach winter driving safety with caution and respect.

Cold-Weather Driving Basics

• Make sure tires are correctly inflated and have ample tread.
• Keep at least half a tank of fuel in the vehicle.
• Avoid warming up the car inside an enclosed space such as a garage.
• Refrain from using cruise control on slippery surfaces (snow and ice).

These practices support winter driving safety by improving vehicle performance, reducing the risk of carbon monoxide exposure, and preventing loss of vehicle control.

Adjusting to Snow and Ice

For snowy or icy roads, AAA encourages drivers to:

• Stay home unless travel is necessary, recognizing that even skilled drivers face higher risks in severe weather.
• Drive more slowly than usual to compensate for lower traction.
• Accelerate slowly to regain/maintain traction and avoid skidding; decelerate slowly to account for longer stopping time.
• Increase following distance to 5 or 6 seconds to allow more time to stop.
• Understand how the vehicle’s brakes work. Position your foot so that your heel is on the floor and the ball of your foot is on the pedal. (Per OSHA’s recommendation, direct continuous pressure can be applied to antilock brakes, while non-antilock brakes may need to be pumped for stopping.)
• Avoid full stops and keep the vehicle rolling slowly when possible and safe. Moving a vehicle from an ongoing roll can be much easier than moving a vehicle from a fully stopped position. In certain circumstances you may be able to keep the vehicle rolling slowly enough so that when a traffic light changes, you are able to roll safely through the light.
• Avoid accelerating while going up a hill. Pressing the accelerator on a hill may only make the wheels spin. If possible and safe, build up or use the vehicle’s ongoing movement/inertia/momentum to climb hills and let the movement carry you to the top. As you reach the top, reduce speed and continue slowly downhill.
• Avoid stopping while climbing a hill. If movement/inertia/momentum can safely be “built up” on a flat road as you approach the hill, this may be enough to carry you to the top without accelerating.

These techniques are directly connected to winter driving safety, helping drivers maintain control and avoid maneuvers that can lead to skids.

Long-Distance Winter Trips

For longer holiday drives, AAA recommends: having the vehicle inspected by a trusted repair facility before departure; checking the weather along the entire route (when possible, delaying the trip if hazardous weather is forecast); and telling someone about your itinerary and estimated arrival time. These steps align closely with the “prepare” and “prevent” components of the Three P’s, strengthening winter driving safety for extended trips.

What to Do in a Winter Emergency

Even when drivers practice excellent winter driving safety, emergencies can still occur. AAA’s “What to Do in a Winter Emergency” guidance focuses on both prevention and response.

Before and during your trip:

• Have the vehicle checked by a reputable repair facility before hitting the road to confirm that the vehicle is in good working order (battery, tires, brakes, and other systems).
• Monitor the weather at the starting point, along the route, and at the destination. If dangerous conditions are expected, delay travel when possible until the forecast improves.
• Tell friends or family members where you are going, which route you plan to take, and when you expect to arrive.
• Slow down and move over when approaching first responders, roadside technicians, tow operators, or stranded drivers. Winter conditions make roadways especially hazardous for people working at the roadside, so giving them space is a critical part of winter driving safety.

If you become stranded:

• Stay with your vehicle so it can serve as shelter and make it easier for rescuers to find you.
• Avoid attempts to walk for help during a severe storm, since blowing snow can quickly hide landmarks and make it easy to get lost. Passing vehicles may also have difficulty seeing pedestrians.
• Limit physical exertion while trying to dig out or push the vehicle to prevent over-tiring yourself in the cold.
• Use visual signals for help such as tying a brightly colored cloth to the antenna or securing the cloth in a rolled-up window, and turning on the dome light at night if the battery allows.
• Check that the exhaust pipe is free of snow, ice, or mud before running the engine, to prevent carbon monoxide from entering the cabin.
• Use available materials—blankets, coats, floor mats, or other items—to insulate your body from the cold.
• Run the engine and heater only long enough to take the chill off, conserving fuel.

These actions are practical, straightforward ways to extend winter driving safety principles into a real-world emergency.

Packing a Winter Emergency Kit

AAA strongly recommends that drivers keep an emergency kit in the vehicle year-round, and notes that it is especially important in winter. A winter-ready kit supports winter driving safety by ensuring you have both supplies and signaling tools if you are delayed or stranded.

Based on AAA’s checklist, a well-stocked emergency kit should include:

• Cell phone car charger – so you can keep your phone powered.
• Flashlight and extra batteries – essential for signaling and making repairs in low light or darkness.
• Reflective or warning triangles – placed outside the vehicle to alert other drivers to a breakdown or hazard.
• First-aid kit – to handle injuries while waiting for assistance.
• Drinking water and non-perishable food – enough for everyone in the vehicle, including pets.
• Traction aids – such as sand, salt, non-clumping cat litter, or traction mats to help free a stuck vehicle.
• Ice scraper, snow brush, and shovel – to clear snow and ice from the vehicle and create a path around tires.
• Gloves, extra coats or sweatshirts, hats, and blankets – to help you and your passengers stay warm if you are stopped for an extended time.

Drivers can adapt this list to their specific needs, but having these core items on board is a major addition to winter driving safety.

---

Lakeside Motel & Resort as a Winter Travel Rest Stop

For travelers driving through northwest Montana during the busy holiday season, Lakeside Motel & Resort in Trout Creek is on the shores of Noxon Reservoir and offers accommodations that are varied, comfortable, and convenient.

Lakeside provides both traditional motel rooms and also cabins, giving options for solo travelers, couples, and larger groups. Cabins feature fully equipped and furnished kitchens, so guests staying longer can handle meals on their own schedule. This mix of cabins and motel rooms allows Lakeside to accommodate a range of group sizes while giving guests a reliable place to stop, rest, and refresh.

The resort also has an on-site, full-service restaurant, part of a broader complex that includes a Montana-themed gift shop. Lakeside’s on-site restaurant offers breakfast, lunch, and dinner, so guests can remain on the property. This convenience is especially valuable in winter, when daylight hours are short and road conditions can change quickly.

By offering varied and comfortable accommodations, cabins with fully equipped kitchens, and a restaurant providing full meals, Lakeside Motel & Resort functions as a practical partner in winter driving safety. It gives travelers a place to pause between long highway segments, step away from traffic, warm up with a hot meal, and get a full night’s sleep before continuing their journey.

When you combine careful planning, responsible driving, and restorative breaks at a place like Lakeside, winter driving safety becomes a manageable part of the holiday season—helping you and your passengers arrive ready to celebrate the holidays with loved ones.

Sources:
AAA Exchange. “Winter Driving Tips.” exchange.aaa.com. 2 December 2025 (Accessed). https://exchange.aaa.com/safety/driving-advice/winter-driving-tips/.
Diaz, Aixa (AAA Newsroom). “Record Number of Holiday Travelers Expected to Close Out 2024.” newsroom.aaa.com. 11 December 2024 (Published). https://newsroom.aaa.com/2024/12/year-end-forecast/.
Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). “Safe Winter Driving.” osha.gov. 2 December 2025 (Accessed). https://www.osha.gov/sites/default/files/publications/SafeDriving.pdf.