Driving during the winter can often be a difficult task, but Perry Police Chief Eric Vaughn says a bit of care can go a long way to making your winter accident-free.

“I think every winter we have to remind ourselves how to drive. And the biggest thing, I think, is take it a little bit slower. Give yourself a little bit more time to get there, and just slow down. Generally that’s going to help the situation a lot more. You’re not going to be able to stop so quickly at the stop signs and the traffic lights, so get off that accelerator, coast a little bit before applying the breaks. That will go a long ways I think.”

Vaughn admits even the most cautious driver can find themselves in a bad situation over the winter, so he also advises people to be prepared should they find themselves in an accident. He recommends keeping blankets and emergency kits in your vehicle in case you find yourself broken down. In the case of being stuck in snow, he advises if you have room in your vehicle it’s good to have a shovel with you, as well as sand or kitty litter to help you get out. Finally, Vaughn says it’s always a good idea to make sure your cell phone has a full charge and your gas tank is over half-full whenever you venture out into bad weather.

To hear more from Vaughn, listen to Thursday’s Perry Fareway Let’s Talk Dallas County program at RaccoonValleyRadio.com.