According to weather.com, there is a a chance of a wintry mix beginning late Sunday night, early Monday morning in Columbia, SC. Oxford dictionaries defines a wintry mix as “variable precipitation consisting of rain, freezing rain, sleet, or snow.”
This would be the second time this winter that snow could hit the Midlands. Over the Christmas holiday, the Midlands area received its first snow on Christmas since 1887, when weather records were first kept.
While snow can be beautiful, it can also be dangerous. With it comes the risk of getting into an automobile accident. The following is a list of tips from AAA for safe travel during snowy days:
- Accelerate and decelerate slowly. Applying the gas slowly to accelerate is the best method for regaining traction and avoiding skids. Don’t try to get moving in a hurry. And take time to slow down for a stoplight. Remember: It takes longer to slow down on icy roads.
- Drive slowly. Everything takes longer on snow-covered roads. Accelerating, stopping, turning – nothing happens as quickly as on dry pavement. Give yourself time to maneuver by driving slowly.
- The normal dry pavement following distance of three to four seconds should be increased to eight to ten seconds. This increased margin of safety will provide the longer distance needed if you have to stop.
- Know your brakes. Whether you have antilock brakes or not, the best way to stop is threshold breaking. Keep the heel of your foot on the floor and use the ball of your foot to apply firm, steady pressure on the brake pedal.
- Don’t stop if you can avoid it. There’s a big difference in the amount of inertia it takes to start moving from a full stop versus how much it takes to get moving while still rolling. If you can slow down enough to keep rolling until a traffic light changes, do it.
- Don’t power up hills. Applying extra gas on snow-covered roads just starts your wheels spinning. Try to get a little inertia going before you reach the hill and let that inertia carry you to the top. As you reach the crest of the hill, reduce your speed and proceed down hill as slowly as possible.
- Don’t stop going up a hill. There’s nothing worse than trying to get moving up a hill on an icy road. Get some inertia going on a flat roadway before you take on the hill.
- Stay home. If you really don’t have to go out, don’t. Even if you can drive well in the snow, not everyone else can. Don’t tempt fate: If you don’t have somewhere you have to be, watch the snow from indoors.
So remember to follow these tips and bundle up during the winter weather!
At Strom Law Firm, LLC, our attorneys provide comprehensive legal services designed to protect your rights and your interests. Contact us today to arrange a free case review. Our lawyers are licensed in South Carolina, New York, and Georgia.
