On average, Missouri accumulates around four to five inches of snow in the month of December. Â However, this 2013-2014 school year has already seen about three inches of snow. Â This Friday, Dec. 13, St. Louis is expecting another one to three inches of snow. Â The roads will again become slippery and drivers are at risk for accidents. Â How can drivers avoid crashes and collisions in the snow?
The first and best choice, of course, would be to avoid driving at all. Â Inside warm and cozy houses, one can catch up with the new season of their favorite TV show. Â Chances of getting into a collision is significantly reduced when one decides to stay indoors. Â If an option, wait until the snow plows do their jobs and the roads are less icy and slippery.
If one must drive in snowy conditions all drivers should use their lights, and drive at slow and cautious speeds. Â Before driving, the car should have good visibility from inside the vehicle which may require one to manually scrape the ice off the windows. Drivers should break much earlier and gently, and be especially careful on infrequently traveled roads or bridges. Â Even four-wheel drives can have problems in the snow, so no driver should assume their car can handle the snowy conditions incredibly well.
If stuck in the snow, drivers should not spin their wheels which will only dig them in deeper. Â Drivers should try moving the tires side to side to push the snow out of the way, and use a light touch of gas to try to get out of the snow. Â If this does not work, one may have to use manual labor and actually shovel snow out of their way. Â This will require getting out of the car and enduring the cold, wintery conditions outside.
Remember that safety comes first, before any other commitment. Â If one really cannot drive safely, maybe staying home would be the safest idea.
