Ice, snow, accidents! Winter Driving 2015
As 2015 begins, so does the heavy part of the winter season.
January 20, 2015
With January approaching, the real winter season is upon us. As snow levels increase, so do the the risks of car accidents. In addition comes rain, ice, and hail to make matters worse. Winters conditions are some of the worst for drivers young and old and can lead to death and injury. Here are some quick tips to help keep you safe on the road this winter season.
Pack up!
One of the most obvious points for any journey, is usually brushed over. Always make sure to have the following gear to be prepared in the case of an emergency. Make sure you have a cell phone at all times to call for help and be sure to carry a flashlight and a snow brush to clean off your car. Always have a first aid kit for any medical injuries. And finally, make sure to have extra clothes to weather the elements. Blankets, rain jackets, gloves and hats are all a good idea.
Have a service check.
Before the storm season be sure to have your car checked over. Having a working car is necessary and waiting to the last minute can cause big issues such as weak tires, broken wipes, or faulty breaks.
Don’t text and drive!
This one is obvious, but texting and driving is already one of the leading killers of the road even in normal conditions.
Buckle up!
Always be sure to follow the rules of the road and use these winter driving tips:
Buckle up ahead of time
Drive slowly and keep a distance from the car in front of you to prevent sliding and crashing
Bridges freeze before roads so be aware and drive slowly while crossing
Leave room for plows and other service vehicles
Be aware that exit ramps receive less anti-icing than the main roads
Don’t use cruise-control because uncertain ice spots may be scattered on the road
Stay posted on the Kestrel for all other road safety and winter articles.
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Patrick Welch • Mar 12, 2015 at 3:03 pm
I love articles like this, because all drivers need to know what to do and how to prepare. This year we had huge storms and unfortunately huge amount of accidents. The carry a brush tip is a huge one, not everyone has one and not brushing off your car can be a danger and is illegal. Always look at your car all around before you go out, because if you get in the driver side and you don’t know that the nuts on the car wheels are very loose or your exhaust is hanging there is going to be a problem. Carrying simple things like a jack, spare tire, or first aid kit will save you money, because if you get a flat tire then you won’t have to call a repair truck. And texting and driving is just stupid enough said.
Gavin O'Connell • Feb 26, 2015 at 3:00 pm
This article has a lot of good advice to help be safe on our dangerous winter roads. I myself have been in a minor slip on a non busy road. It may have not been dangerous but I knew that if it was on a major road it probably wouldn’t have gone the way it did on the quite road. I do agree when the author mentions to be careful on exit ramps for I have witnessed a crash on a ramp myself. It was snowing and it was cold so previous water on the road turned to ice and a car had run into a rail. If he had followed some of the instructions in this informative article he could have avoided that accident . I did enjoy learning all these safety rules that I will remember when I get my car in a couple years. I feel that more people should be educated about these safety rules so people don’t text they look out for others and have a general knowledge on how to keep themselves and others safe.
Max Kessler • Feb 3, 2015 at 2:57 pm
This article is full of good advice about what to do when it is cold out and I can definitely appreciate the insight. It is always a great idea to buckle up when getting into a car. Also whenever you are driving someone you are responsible for their safety and you should always make sure that every one in the car is buckled up. Also getting your car check often is another great point this essay made and me and my brother learned the hard way. Once when we were driving to school we hit a red light and pulled to a stop. As soon as we came to a stop the car died and we were stranded in the road as the light turned green. My brother immediately look for his phone which unfortunately he had forgot at home, luckily I had my phone with me. I called my dad and he was able to help use restart the car and we managed to get to school only slightly late. After that we have fixed the problem with the car and continue to check it often.
Michael Galatie • Jan 22, 2015 at 2:49 pm
This article is a great lesson. It has great points like never text and drive. I learned that texting and driving is one of the leading killers on the road. Having an extra pair of clothes is a great idea and when I drive I will be sure to carry an extra pair. Another important fact I learned was that exit ramps are not salted as much as main roads, this is a great fact to know. Having your car checked out is a great idea also. Reading this article made me realize that driving on the road in bad weather is very dangerous and you should always be prepared.