Even if you have weathered Ohio winters before, the first appearance of ice and snow provides a clear sign you should rethink how you drive.
According to the U.S. Department of Transportation, approximately 1,300 die and nearly 117,000 get injured in vehicle crashes due to icy, snowy or slushy conditions. Although you have no control over what other drives do, you can help minimize causing an accident.
1. Slow down
Especially in this day and age with so many all-terrain and four-wheel-drive vehicles on the road, many people assume that means they can drive as fast as normal. If you have one of these vehicles, you get extra traction but not a license to speed. When the road gets slippery, you have less time to react if a troublesome situation arises.
2. Watch for black ice
Even if it has not snowed yet, that does not mean you face no added dangers. When temperatures warm during the day and dip at night, any moisture may turn into black ice. Once you get going on the road, you may think of it as just another day. Regardless of your vehicle, black ice will affect your travels. Take extra precautions on well-traveled roads, bridges and bypasses.
3. Stay back
Life gets hectic. With everyone in a hurry, perhaps even yourself sometimes, driving easily become a bit mindless. When wintry weather hits, it serves as the perfect time to remind yourself to stay back from other vehicles both while driving and when stopped. If someone speeding hits their brakes and slides into you, leaving extra space between you and the vehicle in front may make a big difference.
If you find yourself in a situation where you get rear-ended or side-swiped due to road conditions, remember that you have rights as a victim.