January 8, 2010
Well, it was bound to happen sooner or later – we got our first significant snowfall of 2010! I left work about 4:30 yesterday and didn’t get to my home in Livonia until 6:18 p.m. Along the way, I did not come across one traffic crash – just everyone driving very slowly. Several horns blew as some impatient drivers grew frustrated waiting for drivers to clear the intersections, but my experience was that for the most part everyone slowed down and took their time. The first thing you need to pack for a ride like that is a lot of patience. You are not going anywhere fast, so just slow down, put on a good CD or listen to the road condition report on the radio. You will eventually get to wherever it is you are going – the trick is to get there safely! SEMCOG suggests several driving tips for winter driving. They are available on our Web site at www.semcog.org under the Members tab. The most important tip is to stay home and don’t go out in bad weather unless you absolutely have to. Other tips include:
Know the current road conditions. Check latest weather information.
Clear snow and ice from all windows and lights –including the hood and roof – before driving.
Remember the posted speed limits are for dry pavement.
Leave plenty of room for stopping. Drive carefully and defensively.
Leave room for maintenance vehicles and plows.
Avoid making an abrupt lane change. The passing lane may be in worse shape than the driving lane.
If approaching a snowplow, stay back at least 200 feet (it's the law!), and don't pass on the right.
Use brakes carefully. Brake early. Brake correctly. It takes more time and distance to stop in adverse conditions.
Watch for slippery bridge decks, even when the rest of the pavement is in good condition. Bridge decks will ice up sooner than adjacent pavement.
Look farther ahead in traffic than you normally do. Actions by cars and trucks will alert you quicker to problems and give you a split-second extra time to react safely.
Go slow! Don’t worry about arriving on time.
How was your drive?
