Use high-tread boots – Ice and snow covered sidewalks and streets and can make walking treacherous. Even if you are only walking from your car to the office you could take a fall and be seriously hurt.

Wear bright colors – During winter, the days are shorter and the evenings are darker than they were a few months ago. Pick a winter coat with bright colors and reflective panels to help drivers see you, keeping you safe in crosswalks and driveways.

Face traffic – Any time you are walking close to cars, including on an attached sidewalk, make sure you walk on the left side of the road, facing the cars traveling closest to you. You will better be able to react more quickly if a driver loses control on the ice and snow.

Keep your eyes and ears open – As you fight the cold, you often wrap your head in warm and wooly hats, hoods, earmuffs, and scarves. But these head coverings can interfere with your ability to see and hear traffic around yopu. Make sure your peripheral vision is clear and you are alert to vehicles nearby.

Get rid of distractions – Don’t use your phone when you’re walking. When you use a phone while walking, you’re not paying attention to traffic or other people who are walking nearby.

Planning – Instead of waiting until later in the day to go for a walk, try to plan ahead so that you complete your errands in the middle of the day.

Travel light – One way to monitor your balance to decrease your risk of falling is to lighten your load. Avoid carrying a lot of heavy bags.