How to Drive Safely in the Snow [Tips]

Our biggest snow of the season overnight and roads in the tristate area are snow-covered.  And, with an even bigger snow expected tomorrow night and Friday, driving conditions may be poor through the weekend.  To help, the Kentucky State Police have released some helpful winter driving tips that include details about how to be prepared, what to do if you have an accident or slide off the road, and details about Kentucky's Move Over Law.

DRIVING CONSIDERATIONS

-          Clear all windows and mirrors – having unobstructed vision is vital for time/distance management and to avoid having a collision.

-          Leave early – allow more travel time; expect some delays as well as temporary road closures. Anticipate normal travel time to be up to five times longer (depending).

-          Increase distance between vehicles – it takes significantly longer to stop on snow and ice cover roadways.

-          Use extreme caution on bridges and over passes – also peaks and valleys as well as shady areas typically hold spots of black ice.

-          Do not use cruise control (or exhaust engine brakes for trucks) – cruise control can cause the vehicle’s wheels to continue turning on a slick surface, hence causing the vehicle to lose control.

-          Approach intersections with great care - other drivers not paying attention will slide through red lights.

-          Signal all lane changes and turning movements - for other motorist to react to your anticipated actions.

BE PREPARED

-          Have a full tank of fuel – In the event of a collision or being stranded, it will take emergency personal longer response times. With frigid temperatures, having enough fuel to keep warm is paramount!

-          Have a vehicle cell phone charger and a blanket.

-          Notify a family member or friend of your travel plans and intended travel routes.

COLLISION/SLIDE OFF INFORMATION

-          Be patient – bad weather also limits the capabilities of law enforcement officers and other emergency services. Also, keep in mind we will be experiencing a high volume of requests for service.

-          Attempt to move your vehicle out of the roadway if you are involved in a minor, non-injury traffic collision; especially if you are in a dangerous area such as a curve or blinding hill.

-          If your vehicle is stranded or wrecked but not in the roadway, attempts to recover your vehicle will have to wait until conditions improve for safety considerations.

Furthermore, Kentucky’s Move Over Law states motorists MUST change lanes away from the emergency or utility vehicle if they can do it SAFELY. If not possible to move away from the emergency vehicle, motorists must SLOW DOWN and proceed with caution. Please give us room to work! We are asking motorists to SLOW DOWN and/or MOVE OVER WHEN SAFE TO DO SO.

Vehicles included in the “Move Over” law are:
• Police vehicles
• Ambulances
• Fire trucks and rescue equipment
• Highway incident-response vehicles
• Highway work vehicles-including snow plows
• Vehicle recovery equipment (tow trucks)

We also respectfully request not calling law enforcement, 911 or emergency dispatch centers for road conditions. Calling these entities about road condition information may delay action on critical life emergency calls.

You can find out about weather conditions in your specific area by going to that specific states Department of Transportation website.

Citizens can contribute to highway safety by calling KSP toll-free at: (1-800-222-5555). Citizens can call to confidentially report impaired drivers or any criminal activity. You can also download the free KSP mobile phone app. The app provides quick, direct access to KSP including weather, road and traffic information as well as text, voice and photo tip capabilities to report criminal behavior. The app is available for iPhone, iPad and Android applications and can be easily downloaded free of charge through Apple and Google Play stores.