There are over 5,000 bad-weather related road fatalities every year across the country. Putting that into perspective, there are only around 75 deaths each year due to tornadoes. Think about this…in the last 10 years, no death in Kansas due to tornadoes, 10 people killed in flooding, 2 by lightning and 150 deaths from vehicle accidents where ice or snow played a role. Knowing warning signs of impending slick roads is crucial. The number one thing to look for…any type of precipitation that is falling or has fallen and temperatures below 32 degrees. It doesn’t take much, just a light drizzle or dusting of snow can make roads dangerous. Watch out for bridges, overpasses, steep hills, curves, , braking points and high speed roadways.
Some tips for driving on icy roads. First, if you don’t absolutely have to….don’t. If you are on the road, slow way down, never more than 45 miles per hour in any vehicle. Wear your seat belt. Go easy on your brakes. Pumping your brakes will help prevent a slide. Remember icy road accidents happen in bunches, if there is one, there will probably be others in the same place, stay in your car. And again, if you don’t have to be one the road….don’t be.
