As the roads grow slick and mushy from the snow and ice, drivers seem to lose their knowledge of driving.

Many drivers tend to be caught going far over the speed limit or tailgating others, making reckless decisions and putting others in danger while doing so.

I suggest following these five tips to drive safely and keep yourself and those around you out of danger.

Leave early

Being late means feeling rushed, and feeling rushed when the roads are bad never leads to a good situation.

It is always best to leave early because it prevents you from feeling the need to speed and gives you time to go slow and have more control over your vehicle if something bad were to happen.

No tailgating 

It is important to keep a safe distance between your vehicle and the vehicle in front of you.

People tend to forget that when snow and ice are covering the roads that there is less traction on your tires. Less traction on your tires means it will take more time to slow down.

If the driver in front of you slams on his brakes, it can cause you to slam on your own brakes, which could cause your vehicle to slide and slam into the vehicle in front of you.

No Cruise control

Although cruise control is great for long road trips, preventing your leg from getting fatigued and keeping you from speeding, cruise control is dangerous to have on when the roads are bad.

If your car were to hydroplane or spin while on cruise control, it can cause the wheels to spin or accelerate because the car is trying to maintain the speed where it was set, which can cause you to lose control of your vehicle.

Be equipped for the cold weather

It is a good idea to always do a quick check of your vehicle before leaving to make sure everything is working properly.

Make sure the windshield and side mirrors are clear of snow and that your car has windshield fluid in it.

It is also a good idea to make sure that your headlights and taillights are not covered up and can be seen properly by others.

Pull over if you feel unsafe

If at any point while you are driving you do not feel safe, find a spot and pull over. Stay put until the bad weather calms or until you feel safe enough to continue driving to your destination.

To be extra cautious, you could keep an extra pair of warm clothes and boots in your trunk just in case you happen to get stranded somewhere.

Overall, if you do not feel like the roads are safe enough to drive on, then do not drive.

Always remember to make logical decisions while driving for your sake and others. You may be late to your destination, but arriving in one piece is better then not arriving at all.