January 31, 2006
Contact Person: Jackie
Copas
(270) 432-3214, jackies.copas@ky.gov
These Wheels Weren’t Made for Slip’in
Driving in the winter means snow, sleet and ice that can lead to slower travel, dangerous road conditions and unplanned hazardous situations. Between 2000-2005, there were 38,049 collisions in the state of Kentucky due to snow and ice. Metcalfe County represented 63 of these total collisions due to wintry road conditions. The State incurred 132 fatalities as a result of these collisions, with our 8-county district involving 6 of these deaths.
The following tips may help prevent accidents due to these environmental events.
Driving safely on icy roads
- Slow down and make sure you have plenty of space to get stopped.
- Brake slowly to prevent sliding and if your wheels start to lock up, ease off the brake.
- Make sure your lights are on in order that other drivers can see you as well as to help increase your own visibility.
- Maintain a clean windshield and lights.
- In order to keep traction, especially going up hill, use low gears.
- The cruise control or overdrive should not be used on slick roads.
- Bridges, overpasses and infrequently traveled roads will be the first to freeze, especially in shaded areas.
- Caution should be used even with four-wheel and front-wheel drive vehicles.
If your rear wheels skid...
- Remove your foot from the accelerator.
- Steer in the direction you want the front wheels to go. If your rear wheels are sliding left, steer left. If they're sliding right, steer right.
- If your rear wheels start sliding the other way as you recover, ease the steering wheel toward that side. You might have to steer left and right a few times to get your vehicle completely under control.
- If you have standard brakes, pump them gently.
- If you have anti-lock brakes (ABS), do not pump the brakes. Apply steady pressure to the brakes. It is normal for these brakes to pulse.
If your front wheels skid...
- Remove your foot from the accelerator and shift to neutral, but don't try to steer immediately.
- As the wheels skid to the side, they will slow the vehicle and traction will come back. As it does, steer in the direction you want to go. Then put the transmission in "drive" or release the clutch, and gently accelerate.
It is best to try these winter driving tips in a snowy, open parking lot, so you can become comfortable with how to handle your vehicle before getting on the open road. Just make sure when driving in these conditions that you allow yourself plenty of time to get where you are going. It is always a good idea to keep informed of the forecast on the Web, radio, TV, weather channel, or in the newspaper. Of course, the simplest advice for driving in bad winter weather is to avoid driving at all.
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PROMOTE • PROTECT • PREVENT
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