The first blizzards of the season have already hit areas of the Northeast and northern Great Plains, and snow is already falling in other parts of the country. Add freezing temperatures to areas where it rains, and black ice forms. Then add drivers to the mix, and accidents will happen.
The Bureau of Transportation Statistics shows that an overwhelming amount of auto accidents occur during normal weather conditions, but the other two conditions listed are snow/sleet and rain. They consist of roughly ten percent of all accidents. Ten percent doesn’t seem like much, but if you consider that many of these accidents could have been avoided had the driver slowed down or not slammed on their brakes, then this percentage could have been much lower.
Some people who live in areas where snow or ice is likely in the winter are sometimes slow to remember how to drive in these conditions. This is especially true of young drivers and those who have never had to drive in this kind of weather. However, even experienced drivers can lose control on icy roads.
Tips for Driving in Snow and Ice
- Slow down and leave room between you and the vehicle in front of you. You should leave more room than you would on a normal day.
- Brake gently to avoid skidding. Take your foot off the brake if your wheels lock up.
- Turn on your lights to increase your visibility to other drivers.
- Keep your windshield and lights clean and clear of snow.
- Use low gears to increase traction, especially on slopes.
- Be extremely cautious on bridges, overpasses, or roads where there is little traffic since these will freeze first. Places that are shaded may also remain frozen even if temperatures begin to warm up and thaw out the roads.
- Snow plows and sand trucks have limited visibility, so do not try to pass them. Also, the road ahead of them may be worse, so it’s best to stay behind them where the road is clearer.
- Do not assume that your four-wheel or front-wheel drive vehicle or SUV can handle snow or ice as well as it can in normal conditions. All vehicles can have problems on winter roads.
If you or a loved one has been injured in an auto accident due to another party’s negligent driving on winter roads, please contact the experienced Oklahoma car accident lawyers at Carr & Carr, Attorneys at Law. Our Oklahoma car wreck lawyers have offices in both Tulsa and Oklahoma City.
Posted by Patti
