ALT-1 Driving Safely on Icy Roads
Statistics show that most accidents due to snow and icy roadways happen during the first measurable snowfall of the season. That, according to the experts, is because of inexperienced drivers who have never driven under such conditions before.Additionally, even for experienced winter drivers, some have accidents because their memories don’t go back several months to times when they had to drive under icy conditions. Whatever your driving skills, there are some simple rules you should follow for driving safely on icy roads.1. Before you drive in snowy or icy winter weather, be sure to give a family member or office associate you expected route and time of arrival home. Carry a well-charged cell phone within handy reach at all times, with the 9-1-1 emergency number inbedded so you can access it by punching one button.2. Keep your car in good condition for winter driving. Be sure your tires are correctly inflated, your heating and air-conditioning unit is operating correctly, your brakes are tested, oil level is correct and other functions are working properly. Additionally, when you drive frequently each day or are on a long road trip, be sure there’s enough gas in the tank.3. Whatever the posted speed limits, drive slower by at least five to ten miles an hour on icy roads. This will give you more time to apply your brakes in case you need to make a sudden stop. On a normally dry road, distance covered when stopping in an emergency could be 50 feet at 25 miles an hour. When the road is icy, it could take 100 or more feet to bring your car to a stop.4. If you’re in a climate where there is considerable snow and ice during the winter months, equip your car with deep tread tires or snow tires. If your area also requires high elevation driving upward to increasingly cold and snowy weather, consider using chains on your tires.5. Whenever you need to stop under icy winter conditions, instead of a sudden pressure on the brake pedal, pump brakes slowly so they’ll grip more effectively. If your car is on a very icy section of the road, a sudden pressure on the brake pedal can result in a skid and loss of control of the car’s movement.6. If the car becomes involved in a skid, turn into the skid while pumping the brakes gradually, and get away from traffic into a side street or road shoulder. Always be aware of everything around you on the road, including heavy traffic, accidents, police and fire vehicles, traffic lights, road signs and everything else to assure you as much safety as possible.Driving safely is an annual winter hazard for drivers in areas where icy roads happen frequently. With restraint, patience and common sense, you can get through it and enjoy the more friendly springtime highways.
