“Drive slow in ice and snow.” It’s a catchy phrase we’ve become used to hearing. But warmer-than-normal weather may have put the pesky reality of wintry conditions out of our minds up until recently.

During the 2022-2023 winter season, Michigan recorded a total of 30,786 crashes attributed to icy, snowy or slushy roads, 59 of them fatal.

And while it’s pretty easy to blame the weather, there are several things drivers can do to avoid getting into a traffic crash under such conditions.

Chief among them, according to the MSP, is to slow down, because most winter crashes are caused by drivers going too fast for road conditions.

Most people don’t realize it can take up to 10 times longer to stop. So slowing down and allowing more room between you and the vehicle in front of you gives you more reaction and braking time.

And speaking of reaction and braking time, it’s not a bad idea to use the turn signal a little sooner than you would in the summer months. That gives drivers behind and around your vehicle more time to react.

The MSP says it’s always important to avoid distractions such as mobile devices, eating or fiddling with your vehicle’s onboard entertainment system. In other words always make driving your number-one priority, especially when the roads could be unpredictable.

And, speaking of predicting outcomes, driving a vehicle with four-wheel drive does not necessary make you safer. While it is true that front-wheel drive, four-wheel drive and all-wheel drive vehicles are less likely to slip than a rear-wheel drive vehicle while accelerating, they are “just as difficult to stop and turn on wintry roads as RWD vehicles.”

Speed is an important factor, but some tips can be implemented before you get behind the wheel. That includes making sure your car is well maintained. Some vehicle systems might not seem important until you need them, including windshield wipers, heater, defroster, lights and brakes.

Finally, cleaning the snow and ice off of your vehicle and using headlights or fog-lights during inclement weather could make all the difference.

We all want to get from point “A” to point “B” safely, even if it means getting there later than we planned.

For more winter driving safety tips, go online to michigan.gov/msp.