Winter Driving Safety how to Drive on Icy Roads
The first snow moves into town and news reporters appearing too young to drive tell us to keep kitty litter, charged phone, emergency water, snacks, flares, chains, sleeping bag and coffee-can-with-candle-and-matches in our car to use for heating spam.
I've used the shovel, kitty litter and phone. But the reality is that in this age of cell phones most of us won't camp in our cars very long. Knowing how to avoid accidents is more important.
Prepare your vehicle. Get routine maintenance and ensure your car is winter-ready. Ask about your tire treads.One of the best investments you'll make is in a good set of snow tires. You will increase your safety and double the life of your all-weather tires.
Keep two jugs of wiper fluid in your car. When the interstate is slushy, it's easy to go through a liter of wiper fluid in a two-hour trip. Always have some in case you need to pull over onto the shoulder. Check your levels each time you stop.
Keep your headlights and tail lights clean. If they're grimy and the snow starts blowing, it can be difficult for others to see your vehicle, even in daylight. Check them at each stop.
Reduce speed by letting up on the gas. Braking can be dangerous and cause you to lose traction. Keep a safe distance between you and the car in front of you to allow ample time to slow down by letting up on the gas before you need to apply your breaks.
Never use cruise control in rain, ice or snow. When your cruise control is set, the only way to reduce speed is by breaking. That split second it takes to move your foot can be the difference between life and death.
Pay attention to temperatures. Road moisture will freeze at 32 degrees. Be aware of exactly when you reach that freezing point, especially if you haven't seen any maintenance crews in awhile.
If everyone else is driving slower, they know something you don't. This is especially true if you don't know the temperature.
Stay in the right lane. Crews treat right lanes of interstates first. If you must use the passing lane, you're taking a gamble, which explains the vehicles rolled over in the median.
Don't pass semi trucks in a snowstorm unless absolutely necessary. Half-way past the truck, you will be blinded by the typhoon of snow being throw off the semi that will hit you front-on. You either drive on blindly praying that you stay on the road or slow down and take your space behind the truck again.
Stop each hour. Get a cup of coffee even if you don't need gas and chat with other motorists and clerks to check on upcoming road conditions.
Be observant of other drivers. Your driving record or vehicle means nothing to the Pontiacwith bald tires being driven too fast by a 19 year old speeding home from college. He doesn't know he lacks traction. Take it slower than usual and ensure you have enough control over your vehicle to dodge him when he spins out breaking for deer.
Don't break for deer. Each year a million deer-vehicle crashes occur nationwide. In 2003, insurance companies, law enforcement and AAA Minnesota/Iowa collaborated to create the "Don't Veer For Deer" campaign. It was so successful that Iowa reported a 60% drop in deer/car related fatalities by 2005, causing other states like Michigan and Minnesotato adopt the program. Don't swerve, stay in your own lane and maintain control over your vehicle. Better to hit the deer than to wipe out the family next to you when you spin out of control or crash head-on to something weighing more than your 145 pound doe.
Beware of Snow Virgins and know if you are one of them. Skilled drivers fear most those whom we can't control.Over-confident young drivers are the biggest danger in winter weather. Youngsters, remember you are mortal, along with those babies in the mini-van in the next lane.
Don't trust intersection traffic lights. Especially at intersections, if you're first at the light don't move until you're sure someone else isn't unintentionally skidding through the intersection. In areas with higher snowfall, be especially cautious at all intersections, especially those without stop signs or lights, as it can be difficult to see past high snow banks. Even if you have the right of way, remember that if you can't see ccars in the crossing lanes they can't see you either.
Practicing these basic principles might just prevent you from having to eat that spam.
