Take 2 for Safety: Winter Driving Safety

Did You Know?

• Do you know why ice forms on bridges, overpasses, or flyovers before the roadway? The wind strikes the elevated structure above and below and on both sides, so it’s losing heat from every side. The roadway is only losing heat from its surface. Even while the temperature on the road surface is dropping, the heat underneath the road keeps it warm enough to prevent icing as temperatures in the atmosphere drop below freezing. Bridges have no way to trap any heat, so they will continually lose heat and freeze shortly after temperatures in the atmosphere hit the freezing point. That’s why drivers should exercise extreme caution when approaching these structures as air temperatures drop freezing.
• Keep headlights and windshields clean to ensure maximum driver visibility.
• Drive slowly. Everything takes longer on snow-covered roads. Accelerating, stopping, turning – nothing happens as quickly as on dry pavement. Give yourself plenty of time to react and maneuver.
• Do not use cruise control when driving on any slippery surface (wet, ice, sand).
• Don’t disregard weather service warnings about driving conditions. Watch weather reports prior to a long-distance drive or before driving in isolated areas and delay travel when especially bad weather is expected. If you must leave, let others know your route, destination and estimated time of arrival.
• If you become snow-bound, stay with your vehicle. It provides temporary shelter and makes it easier for rescuers to locate you. Don’t try to walk to other shelter in a severe storm. It’s easy to lose sight of your vehicle in blowing snow and become lost.

Download the printable PDF here