South Carolina is far enough south Old Man Winter has a tough time getting a grip on occasion — unlike farther north in areas such as the Midwest or New England states and even the Appalachia region just a short drive north from the Upstate.

“There in lies the issue,” said Cpl. Bryan McDougald with the Region 1 Public Relations Office of the South Carolina Highway Patrol based in Blythewood.

Being this far south, residents of the Upstate don’t have to worry about many days of serious inclement weather such as snow, ice or sleet.

“Because of that, drivers don’t have a lot of experience in driving in that weather,” McDougald said.

State troopers see the tell-tale signs of inexperience when they arrive on scene at collisions during the winter.

McDougald said many incidents officers are called to — often rear end collisions where drivers failed to slow down enough or followed too closely to the vehicle in front of them — could have been avoided if motorists would have taken the correct precautions.

Drivers need to be alert of weather conditions during the winter.

McDougald said, No. 1, to reduce speed. Motorists should only drive as fast as they feel safe driving in the conditions that exist. And that doesn’t always mean the speed limit.

“Even if you are driving the speed limit, it’s still too fast for the conditions,” he said.

Also, pay attention to the vehicles in front of you. Often times, collisions officers respond to were the result of someone not paying attention to road conditions and following the vehicle in front of them too closely.

“If you stop like you do on a dry day, you’re not going to stop,” McDougald said.

Another dangerous situation motorists need to pay attention to during winter months, especially in the Upstate, is the formation of black ice.

This happens frequently when inclement weather strikes but then temperatures warm up or the sun melts snow, ice or sleet during the day and that moisture refreezes at night causing all types of roadways to become glazed with a thin layer of ice.

McDougald said more serious injuries and fatalities occur at night during winter months because motorists aren’t watching out for black ice. He added the worst things a driver can do on black ice are speeding, changing lanes, slowing down too quickly and turning corners or going around curves too fast.

It all really boils down to the simple equation of increasing speed equals an increased chance of having an accident and greater chance for serious injury or even death.

Accidents increase during inclement weather, that’s a fact.

McDougald said even in rain events such as the Upstate has experienced in the last few months when large amounts of moisture are on roadways, troopers definitely respond to more crashes. And while people in the Upstate are less likely to travel during winter months than between Memorial Day and Labor Day, there are other factors that play into the number of incidents troopers respond to during the winter like drunk drivers and increased holiday traffic.

McDougald offered his top five tips for staying safe while behind the wheel during the winter.

First, he said, be sure to check the vehicle. Make sure it has good tires with good tread because “more rubber on the asphalt” means better traction. He added to be sure to top off the fluids in the vehicle as well.

“You don’t want to break down during inclement weather,” McDougald said, noting a person could be stranded for a large amount of time in the event of a breakdown during bad weather because troopers already are busy responding to others.

Second, limit time driving to only what’s necessary. If travel is a must, be sure to tell someone where you’re going. McDougald said it gives an officer a good idea of what routes a driver could have taken and a better chance at locating them if they know where the driver was headed.

Next, and this is paramount, lower driving speeds and, fourth, increase following distance.

Finally, start slowing down sooner for intersections, stop signs, curves, corners and other drivers before it’s absolutely necessary to stop in time. It also might be a good idea to tap on the brakes lightly to test the available friction before it gets too late.

McDougald also noted there are a few precautions motorists can take to winterize their vehicles before the cold hits.

“Try not to run water in your radiator,” he said. “Make sure you have antifreeze in the vehicle.”

McDougald said to defrost all windows before driving and never throw hot water on a windshield or window because the extreme and sudden difference in temperature can crack or break the glass. He added it’s also a good idea to get a window scraper and take the time to scrape all the vehicle’s windows.

Finally, be sure the vehicle’s windshield wipers are in good condition and working properly.

“Windshield wipers are very important,” McDougald said.

It’s also good to have a few items in the vehicle in the event a motorist does get into an accident or stranded. McDougald said drivers should always dress appropriately for the weather and carry jumper cables with them.

It could be a good idea to have some type of flagging material in the vehicle and/or an orange triangle and a cellphone as well. McDougald said whether a cellphone has service or not, it still will dial 911.

In the end, it’s just about being prepared when it comes to winter driving. McDougald said as long as motorists take some precautions before they get onto the roadway and remember to drive defensively rather than offensively their experience on South Carolina’s highways and byways during the winter will be safer.

He also offered one last warning.

“If it gets cold enough to freeze outside — if gets down into the 30s — you need to expect black ice,” McDougald said. “If you expect it, you will drive more defensively.”

QUICK TIPS:

With the official start of winter just around the corner, the National Safety Council offers these vehicle maintenance tips for a safe winter driving season:

• Check wipers and replace them if they show any signs of damage or aging. Also, check tires for wear. If a tire’s tread is less than 1.6 mm, the tire needs to be replaced.

• Only use winter or rubber floor mats specifically designed for your car. Mats flipped upside down or piled on top of one another can interfere with the pedals while driving.

• Check oil and other fluid levels. Only use the viscosity of oil called for in the owner’s manual.

• Make sure windshield washer fluid contains antifreeze. The wind chill of air moving against the windshield at even 30 mph can cause many washer fluids to freeze.

• Inspect the battery for corrosion, cracks, loose terminal connections and loose hold-down clamps.

• Update the emergency equipment in your car. Items to store include tire chains, a window scraper, a bag of sand or salt, flares, folding triangles, a small shovel and jumper cables.

Even if your vehicle is prepared for winter, poor road conditions require sound judgment, patience and flexibility. Drive with caution and be sure to accelerate and brake gently. Leave plenty of distance between your car and others. Before traveling in bad weather, ask yourself, "Is this trip necessary?"

For additional information, visit the NSC Web site at www.nsc.org.