No.
1 tip for driving in winter weather? Slow down
By Sarah West
December 5, 2005 | LOGAN
-- Christmas trees, bright lights and decorations are
beginning to come up. But with the approaching holiday
comes the onset of winter weather and potentially dangerous
driving conditions.
"Speed is the biggest cause
of accidents in bad weather, " Lieutenant Chad Jensen
of the Cache Valley Sheriff's Office Patrol Division
said.
One of the reasons there are so many
accidents with the first few snowfalls is because people
are used to how they drive in the summer. "Just because
the speed limit is 55, doesn't mean you have to drive
that speed," Jensen said. "People need to drive for
what the conditions are."
Jana Nyquist, records clerk at the
Logan City Police Department, said there were nine car
accidents on Nov. 29, a snowy day. Ronda Needham, also
a records clerk at the Logan City Police Department,
said on Nov. 17, not a snowy day, there were four car
accidents.
Sometimes an accident may be hard
to avoid. If you start to slip on snow or black ice,
Jensen said, "Don't slam on your brakes." He suggested
taking your foot off the gas to slow down, and pumping
your brakes. "If you feel yourself sliding, everybody
gets nervous and slams on the brakes, which locks up
your tires." He said by pumping your brakes it'll help
you steer out of the problem.
Jensen gave these tips to stay safe
while driving this winter:
-- Slow down.
-- Give yourself more time to get to your destination.
-- Stay in the outside lane on the highways so if people
coming towards you have a problem, there's an extra
lane between you to avoid an accident.
-- Don't get frustrated.
NW
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