Winter driving in Illinois can be quite treacherous. Not only does it require a certain set of skills, but it's also important to know what roads to avoid when driving conditions are bad.

The Worst Part of Winter in Illinois

I often feel like I am one of the few Illinoisans who doesn't despise winter, because I think snow is pretty and I would much rather be cold than hot. Then a snow or ice storm hits, and I flip to the winter-hating side.

Powerful Winter Storm Hits Chicago Area
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Winter Driving Safety Tips

Driving in slippery road conditions terrifies me, but I do know that these are the 4 major safety tips to remember for winter driving:

  1. Slow Down - Speed limits don't apply when it comes to safe winter driving. Driving slower makes it easier to maintain control.
  2. Keep Your Distance - Having more distance between you and the car in front of you gives you more time to react if something unexpected happens like sliding and swerving.
  3. Brake Gently - The worst thing you can do in icy or snowy road conditions is slam on the brakes. It only leads to skidding and sliding.
  4. Stay Prepared - If you have to drive in snowy or icy conditions, making sure you have an emergency kit filled with water, snack, and a blanket is important in case you get stranded for a lengthy amount of time.
Colorado Winter
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The 5 Most Dangerous Illinois Roads for Winter Driving

This might seem weird, but a car dealership in Florida, Gunther Volkswagen of Daytona Beach, recently surveyed 3,000 people to find out the 200 most dangerous roads in America to drive on during the winter. Unfortunately, 5 Illinois roads made this list:

  • Interstate 90 - As part of the longest interstate in the country, different portions of I-90 showed up several times on the list, but Illinois' portion ranked at #16.
  • Interstate 80 - I-80 came in a #51 on the list pretty much thanks to it typical problems with snow drifts and whiteouts.
  • Interstate 55 - Ranking at #68, this road connects Chicago to St. Louis, and a lot of accidents happen in its high traffic areas when roads are slippery and visibility is low.
  • Interstate 94 - Ranking at #85, I-94 has high traffic volumes that become very dangerous when weather conditions are bad.
  • Interstate 57 - This ranked at #181 on the survey which is kind of surprising because it is often considered the most dangerous highway in Illinois.

When a snowstorm hits Illinois, I've often thought it's safer to take highly traveled roads because they are the ones that snowplows clear first, but the results of this survey are now making me rethink that. What about you?

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