A few things should be clear when driving in snow and ice — slow down and watch for the other guy. Forget what your mother told you as a child, “worry about yourself.”
It isn’t yourself that you need to be worrying about during winter weather — it’s the driver who thinks he can drive normally on snow packed and icy roads, the driver who runs that red light and narrowly misses you as you swerve for your life hoping you won’t run into the guy in front of you.
The Christmas Eve blizzard should remind us all of one critical resolution in the New Year — drive safely. Although there were few actual accidents in Emporia during this storm, many Emporians could be seen running those lights because they couldn’t stop, and countless citizens were helping each other dig out of the snow because their cars got stuck.
So how should you drive in weather such as this? If you don’t have to — don’t. But if you must, here are some winter safe driving tips from the Kansas Department of Transportation:
Before driving:
• Call 511 from any phone to get driving information and road conditions or go to http://511.ksdot.org.
• Remove any snow from your vehicle’s windows, lights, brake lights and signals.
• Check tires, wiper blades, fluids, lights, belts and hoses.
• Leave plenty of time to reach your destination safely.
• Take it slow. Drive well below the posted speed limit and leave plenty of room between cars.
• Stay attentive, reduce speed and know what’s going on around you.
• When it snows, use your head, not your feet. Slow down for wet, snowy or icy conditions.
• Avoid excessive actions when steering, braking or accelerating to lessen the chances of losing control of the vehicle.
• Slow down when approaching intersections, off-ramps, bridges or shady spots. These are all candidates for developing black ice — a thin coating of clear ice that may be difficult to see.
• Leave additional room between your vehicle and others.
• Don’t take chances when pulling out in front of approaching vehicles — they may not be able to stop.
• Avoid using cruise control in winter driving conditions.
• Don’t crowd the plow — give them room to work.
Brandy Nance
Reporter
madpoet (anonymous) says...
Plenty of people were driving like idiots Thursday. I didn't even take I-35 due to the congested traffic. The county road was safer!
It would help if the roads were cleared better, too. Saturday morning I had to come to work and highway 50 wasn't even sanded yet.
December 29, 2009 at 2:05 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
create (anonymous) says...
Great article, Brandy. One addition...
I have always found it helpful to shift into neutral before braking when approaching stops. This stops the wheels from turning and thus less sliding occurs.
December 29, 2009 at 2:41 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
sandman (anonymous) says...
create, Thanks for the advice, neat!!! I usually try to stay indoors when I think the weather is bad but upon occasion one must get out.
December 29, 2009 at 4:13 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
seriouslyfolks (anonymous) says...
They usually don't let me out in bad weather................. I mean, I try not to go out in bad weather either.
R.
December 29, 2009 at 11:59 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
biscuitboy (anonymous) says...
create...the shifting into neutral when stopping is a big help especially when the engine is choked up to a higher RPM right after starting.
This will probably get some negative reaction from some....but considering the size of the snowfall and the amount of drifting I thought city crews did a fantastic job of getting things up and moving. I called public works to tell them that and the lady that answered the phone seemed real surprised to hear a compliment. But I think they deserved it....Good Job guys.
I would also like to dip my hat to all the people in the 4-WD's that were out early on helping people in vehicles that shouldn't have been on the road at all. I'm personally aware of a couple of young guys in a Chevy Blazer with differential locks that were a godsend to some. You guys proved that many of our youth are great/ Thank You!
December 30, 2009 at 4:24 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
biscuitboy (anonymous) says...
I do understand that real city crews are few and far between any more. Most of those positions have been eliminated with the money diverted into the city manager's salary. Contractors now do all the real work. In fact it looked like every dump truck Apac-Shears owned was working on Commercial Street Saturday morning.
Nevertheless, a good job was done on the snow removal and a Thank You is deserved.
JMO
December 30, 2009 at 7:54 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
chrissylynn_2 (anonymous) says...
i agree with biscuitboy. i think that was a lot of snow blowing around to try and clear. I too saw many people helping people and it was nice to see. I think it might have taken a bit longer to clear out the roundabout on 18th by the highschool than most wanted it wa a pretty big mess around there and chapelridge apartments with >3 cars stuck at a time at all times but then again when someone sees a car stuck up ahead they should maybe not drive right into that situation. It seemed like people saw people stuck and still drove right up there to get in line to be stuck next. If it wouldnt have been so cold, it might have been almost funny to watch.
December 30, 2009 at 8:47 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
norwegian (anonymous) says...
Are you kidding me??? A good job clearing the roads...what town are you in? In the last week I've traveled to KC, Manhattan, and Topeka. The roads in every town I've visited are FAR better than the streets in Emporia. With the exception of plowing the main streets has anything been done? The main roads are now a sheet of ice and the side streets are almost impassable unless you have a 4-wheel-drive vehicle. This is a public safety issue. Clearing the streets should be a top priority. It has now been almost a week since the heaviest snowfall and the conditions are just getting worse. I guess if the city waits long enough mother nature will do the work.
December 30, 2009 at 10:08 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
create (anonymous) says...
LOL chrissylynn. Cars waiting to get stuck. Sounds like a great cartoon.
Watch this. This will make you cringe.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BURlxM...
Yes, good job on the streets city crews! Yeaaaaahhhhhh!!!
December 30, 2009 at 10:08 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Newsie (anonymous) says...
Norwegian...are you sure you are in Emporia. I've been out on the streets since Christmas Day. Haven't got stuck yet...and I drive a mini-van. I say the city crews, who have worked some hard hours, are doing an excellent job.
December 30, 2009 at 11:15 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Quack (anonymous) says...
City crews here have done a great job. Remember, due to budget cuts over last few years, there are fewer working for the city to do the job. Really appreciate these folks taking their Christmas period and working for us.
December 30, 2009 at 11:29 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
eatasheep69 (anonymous) says...
I think the city crews did an excellent job, especially considering the timing of the storm and the conditions that they had to deal with. Thanks to them all!
December 30, 2009 at 12:09 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
norwegian (anonymous) says...
Just to clarify, I'm not saying the crews didn't do a good job with the resources available. I'm saying that there is clearly a lack of resources. Drive down a few of the streets surrounding the country club and see if your opinion changes. I saw 2 cars stuck there this morning and a 3rd slide backwards down the hill on 18th (a main street in my opinion).
December 30, 2009 at 12:23 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
biscuitboy (anonymous) says...
I'm sure money and resources are tight and the Christmas day storm has probably pretty much used up the budget allocation for snow removal for this entire winter. But therein lies the rub. The Christmas storm was the worst I've seen here in several years....and it may be several more years before we have another like it. I imagine it might be hard to justify spending enough to prepare for the worst possible scenario....one that might not come again for twenty or thirty years.
Incidentally.....I still have family living in the Detroit area.....on Christmas Day, they had rain, thunder, and lightning,......in Detroit.....on Christmas!
December 30, 2009 at 12:35 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
admireed (anonymous) says...
Biscuit...where in Detroit? I grew up there
Edward McKernan
Admire.S
December 30, 2009 at 1:30 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
create (anonymous) says...
"Drive down a few of the streets surrounding the country club and see if your opinion changes."
Whooooooaaaaaaahhhhh, okay then, that does make a difference.
I don't live anywhere near the country club, and my street is snow packed too, with high drifts, and my trash wasn't picked up on Monday. Luckily I have a Blazer. Still...whoooaaaahhh.
December 30, 2009 at 1:52 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
norwegian (anonymous) says...
Gee, contradict yourself much create? "Yes, good job on the streets city crews! Yeaaaaahhhhhh!!!" then "I don't live anywhere near the country club, and my street is snow packed too, with high drifts, and my trash wasn't picked up on Monday." Which is it?
It sounds like the problem isn't just in one area of town. I don't think that by speaking about the area I personally witnessed problems in I implied in any way that the city doesn't need to address all areas. I'm pretty sure people all around town use 18th street. I don't think I should have to buy a Blazer to get around town.
December 30, 2009 at 2:12 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
create (anonymous) says...
Good job on the city streets by city crews means that the main arteries have been cleared of snow. 9th is a main artery. It's clean.12th, 15th are clean. 6th is clean. Merchant is clean. Rural is an important route for the ambulances, so it is clear too. So is Commercial. Given all that, the city crews, limited in manpower, did a hell of a good job. Everything else has to wait.
I did not contradict myself at all. As a citizen of this city, one who has lived here for many, many years, I am well aware that the side streets NEVER get cleaned off. They don't have either the manpower or the equipment. I know this. This I know.
My message to you was that you are crying about the streets near the country club not being cleared. Didn't you get my drift? Country club complaints when the rest of the side streets are snow packed too? If the country club area is so special, then why not South State?
I don't think people all over town use 18th, especially when it snows heavily because that area is a hill.
December 30, 2009 at 2:34 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Steve_Corbin (anonymous) says...
While I was out Christmas Eve, (being an idiot), I saw many more idiots out and about who didn't have a clue on how to drive in snow. More concerned about their driving skills than mine, I slid down 18th ave. making it home and stayed there for a while.
Our biggest problem was trying to get our dogs to step outside using a different door because the one they were used to using had a 4 foot drift keeping it blocked. But we did teach the old dogs a new trick. They did get high-centered in the snow a couple of times, funny for us but not so much them.
Still I think I would take driving on icy roads over bullets and IED's.
And thanks to the city, county and state workers who worked so hard over Christmas to clean up some of this "stuff"
December 30, 2009 at 4:22 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
biscuitboy (anonymous) says...
admired
Actually in Ypsi. One brother and his wife. He works in Dearborn. You probably know Ypsi......home of the really big......well you know.
December 30, 2009 at 5:31 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
biscuitboy (anonymous) says...
Sorry about leaving an "e" out of your handle.....admireed.....hope I don't have to do detention....lol
December 30, 2009 at 6:17 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )