When it comes to driving in ice and snow, South Louisiana
residents are really at a loss for the most part. More than 200 accidents occurred
last week when ice covered many bridges, which resulted in closures and long
delays in getting to destinations.
The National Weather Service issued a briefing this morning at 9 a.m. with a forecast through Thursday.
It is best to winterize
your vehicle before winter strikes. Schedule a maintenance check-up for
the vehicle’s tires and tire pressure, battery, belts and hoses, radiator, oil,
lights, brakes, exhaust system, heater/defroster, wipers and ignition system.
Keep your gas tank sufficiently full – at least half a tank is recommended.
Depending upon where you drive, you may consider using winter tires or tire
chains.
Winter driving conditions
such as rain, snow, and ice dramatically affect the braking distance of a
vehicle. The driver’s capability to complete a smooth and safe stop is severely
limited due to reduced tire traction. In order to stop safely, the
vehicle’s wheels must maintain traction by remaining on contact with the road
surface while rolling, referred to as “rolling traction.” When handling
slippery winter roads, the keys to safety are slower speeds, gentler stops and
turns, and increased following distances. It is recommended that drivers reduce
their speed to half the posted speed limit or less under snowy road conditions.
Don’t try to stretch more
miles from your tires during the winter months. If your tread depth is getting
low, it can have serious effects on dry pavement, but those effects are
multiplied in wet and snowy conditions. When in doubt, get new tires.
Tire pressure usually
lowers itself in winter and raises itself in summer. Under-inflated
tires can cause a car to react more slowly to steering. Every time the outside
temperature drops ten degrees, the air pressure inside your tires goes
down about one or two PSI. Tires lose air normally through the process of
permeation. Drivers should check their tire pressures frequently during cold
weather, adding enough air to keep them at recommended levels of inflation at
all times.
Sand and salt play a big
role in keeping roads safe. The spreading of road salt prevents snow and ice
from bonding to the road surface, which is why salt is usually spread early in
a storm to prevent snow build-up and to aid in snow removal operations.
Unlike salt, sand
does not melt and therefore helps by providing traction on slippery surfaces.
Sand is often used when temperatures are too low for salt to be effective or at
higher temperatures for Immediatee traction, particularly on hills, curves,
bridges, intersections and on snow-packed roads.
Caution must be used when
snowplows are on the roadways as snowplows and salt and sand trucks travel much
slower than regular traffic. Passing a snowplow can be extremely dangerous as
sight lines and visibility near a working snowplow are severely restricted by
blowing snow.
Roads are typically
cooler in shady areas and drivers may encounter another extremely dangerous
element known as “black ice.” Always slow down your vehicle when you
see shady areas under these types of conditions.
Here are some safe-driving tips that will help
you when roads are slick with ice or snow:
o Get the feel of the road by starting out slowly and testing your
steering control and braking ability. Avoid spinning your tires when you start
by gently pressing your gas pedal until the car starts to roll. Start slowing
down at least three times sooner than you normally would when turning or
stopping.
o Equip your vehicle with chains or snow tires. Chains are by far
the most effective, and they should be used where ice and snow remain on the
roadway. Remember that snow tires will slide on ice or packed snow so keep your
distance.
o Reduce your speed to correspond with conditions. There is no
such thing as a “safe” speed range at which you may drive on snow or ice. You
must be extremely cautious until you are able to determine how much traction
you can expect from your tires.
o When stopping, avoid sudden movements of the steering wheel and
pump the brake gently. Avoid locking of brakes on glazed ice as it will cause a
loss of steering and control. Every city block and every mile of highway may be
different, depending upon sun or shade and the surface of the roadway. (Check
your vehicle owner’s manual, if the vehicle has anti-lock brakes, you may apply
steady pressure to the brake pedal.)
o Maintain a safe interval between you and the car ahead of you
according to the conditions of the pavement. Many needless rear-end crashes
occur on icy streets because drivers forget to leave stopping space. • Keep
your vehicle in the best possible driving condition. The lights, tires, brakes,
windshield wipers, defroster, and radiator are especially important for winter
driving.
o Keep your windows clear. Don’t start driving until the windows
are defrosted and clean - even if you’re only going a short distance.
o Watch for danger or slippery spots ahead. Ice may remain on
bridges even though the rest of the road is clear. Snow and ice also stick
longer in shaded areas.
Correctly operating
windshield wipers and defrosters are essential to safety while driving in snow
and ice conditions. Properly maintained windshield wipers are a must; there are
also special blades available that are better equipped to assist in the removal
of snow from the windshield. Defroster effectiveness is essential in the
initial clearing of snow and ice from the windshield – and in some instances
the rear window when a vehicle is so equipped – and should be checked well in
advance of need. In certain cases, a change of the vehicle thermostat will
restore appropriate heat to the defroster system.
