With this week's snowy and frigid weather, Sedalia’s citizens have been reminded that winter is not about to loosen its frigid grip anytime soon. These conditions offer challenges to even the most skilled drivers, offering overtime opportunities to tow truck drivers and body repairmen alike.
Commander Joshua Howell of the Sedalia Police Department offers advice for those braving snow- and ice-covered roads: “Studies show that the average driver looks about 10 to 15 feet in front of them, so I would encourage people to look up a lot further ahead especially during this weather. It takes about a second and a half to react whenever something occurs in front of you, so keep in mind most drivers aren't looking as far ahead as they should be, and it takes us longer to react as drivers then we expect.”
The Federal Highway Administration states that more than 70% of the nation’s roads are located in regions that receive more than five inches of snowfall annually, and Sedalia is located well within that danger-zone. The FHA tells us things every driver who has ventured out in wintry conditions already knows; “snow and ice reduce pavement friction and vehicle maneuverability, causing slower speeds, reduced roadway capacity and increased crash risk.”
The FHA though has other sobering facts of which we might not be aware: Arterial speeds slow by 30-40% on snowy or slushy streets and up to 40% in heavy snow. The Highway Administration grimly notes “over 1,300 people are killed, and more than 116,800 people are injured in vehicle crashes on snowy, slushy or icy pavement annually.”
Even once snow has begun melting during the day, it can refreeze overnight and cause treacherous black ice, an almost invisible form of ice so slippery it can send Sedalia’s drivers careening through intersections and bouncing off each other’s cars.
Howell suggests turning off the cruise control in icy conditions.
“Your cruise control is designed to maintain your mph, so if you hit ice it will detect that your mile-per-hour is dropping, and it will spin your wheels faster compounding the problem and next thing you know you'll be spinning out,” he explained.
Area schools may know the best way to avoid the dangers of snowy roads: stay home. Multiple snow days last week and continuing this week have kept children home and serve as a reminder to those of us worried about motor vehicle accidents. Sometimes avoiding the roads altogether is the best and safest option.
But unfortunately, phone calls to the office won’t always suffice, and at home, kids drink all the milk forcing us to brave the elements. Luckily, there are driving tips we can employ to make foul-weather driving safer:
• Prep your vehicle. Take the time to scrape the snow and ice off every window and mirror.
• Stay calm. Panicking when your car slips around a corner or glides carelessly through a stop sign isn’t going to help. Perhaps travel a bit slower or keep an eye out for when that little traction control light flashes. Modern cars are equipped with ABS which is meant to keep your car from slipping around, but doing your part to not test this safety device is probably wise.
• Pump your brakes. Quick turns and sudden movements on ice are recipes for disaster. Accelerating or slamming on the brakes too quickly can also cause your car to lose control.
• Beware of hills and iced-up bridges. Steep hills with ice can be hard to maneuver.
• Turn into a spin. If your car has decided to fishtail around don’t panic, just slowly reduce speed, turn into the direction the car is sliding and look toward the direction you want to go. Focusing on the ditch will only ensure you end up there. If you do briefly go off the road, exercise caution getting back on the pavement. “The biggest thing,” Howell said, “is don't overcorrect. That’s where you get in trouble because you could end up in oncoming traffic or end up in the other opposing ditch.”
• Keep a safe distance from other motorists. Howell recommends if you do have a bigger vehicle and feel confident in your abilities and your vehicle's abilities, “just don't crowd other drivers. Give them a chance to do what they should be doing.”
• Finally, keep your gloves and hat handy, your insurance card ready and your mind clear of intoxicants or thoughts of being late. A few minutes late beats walking to work because you crashed your car.
