LANSING, Mich. — You know how mom always tells you not to tailgate? It’s especially important now, with all this snow and ice.
The general rule of thumb is that for every 10 miles per hour, drivers should leave one car length between themselves and the vehicle in front of them.
Obviously, that rule of thumb doesn't always work in the winter time.
Ingham County Sheriff Scott Wriggelsworth says that it's best to double, triple, or even quadruple your driving distance in winter weather conditions.
He says that it's better to err on the side of caution and use some common sense.
"If you really want to be late for work and be late to your kids' events, end up being stuck in a ditch for the next hour and you might even miss the whole thing," he said.
Wriggelsworth says leaving a few minutes early can get you to your destination on time or even earlier than if you were to drive 5 to 10 mph over the speed limit.
And, of course, driving safely in the snow also includes clearing your windshield, making sure your vehicle is running properly in the winter, and being prepared for winter driving conditions.
