Today in the Tennessean there was a big story about potential snow in the area this week.
While the thought of snow warms my heart... the thought of driving in TN where people aren't used to driving in it does not.
Living the majority of my life in northeast Nebraska and eastern South Dakota, driving in snow / ice is an everyday occurance 7 - 8 months out of every year. Six inches of snow and ice is just a reason to put chains on the tires up there. It takes a lot of the white stuff to close the schools. Blah blah blah... you understand. It's a different world.
Since I've moved to Nashville (which I love BTW) a little more than six years ago, it has actually snowed, really snowed, once in 2003. It was then I realized that I couldn't count on the other driver to know what to do when the ice and white stuff was on the road.
So, when Clocky pointed out that there might be snow this week as he was perusing the paper this morning, he also noticed that there were winter driving tips.
Thought I'd post them here to remind everyone of what to do when the "snowballs start hitting us in the butt".
**wink**
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From the Tennessean:
Snow-polished roads can be treacherous, as can black ice, an invisible, very slippery ice that typically leaves a thin coat on the road surface. Here are some tips for safe winter driving.
- If your vehicle skids, don't hit the brakes. Ease off the accelerator and steer into the direction of the skid.
- Leave early and slow down. Expect any trip to take double the normal amount of time.
- Allow a large gap between yourself and the vehicle ahead of you. It takes from three to 10 seconds longer to stop on winter-slick pavement than on a dry road.
- Eliminate distractions; turn off cell phones.
- Turn on your lights so others will see you coming.
- To avoid a collision, never slam on brakes in ice or snow. Stop gradually.
- Winterize your vehicle and stay apprised of road conditions.
3 comments:
This is very sensible advice that would eliminate nearly all snow driving issues locally. Most of our snow-related driving problems are most directly linked to panic than the weather itself.
You left out "rush to Kroger and buy any remaining bread and milk," but maybe that was a wise omission. :)
**slapping forehead**
I forgot about the mad dashes to Kroger and bread shortages... well... I guess we should remember these tips when we're dashing, too. Heh heh.
The worst day I had last year was when I accidentally went to the grocery store while there was [unbeknownst to me] a winter storm advisory out.
Never, ever again.
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