All-weather tires will definitely be safer, since you will be less tempted to venture out into the apocalyptic hellscape that D.C. metro area roads turn into the second that drivers see a snowflake.
True, even with snow tires, it was safer to just stay home. Too many people who think AWD fixes snow or think they can drive well enough to take their Corvette out in a blizzard.
Drivers panic on the D.C. beltway the second a snowflake hits the pavement.
Good all-weather tires probably give you better average traction than winter tires in D.C., even in Winter.