Baltimore routinely tops lists of the cities with the worst drivers in America. Add icy roads to the mix and things get even worse.
With “crazy” weather and icy roads expected in the Baltimore area, perhaps it’s time for a refresher on how to drive safely when the roads are slippery. According to the safety experts at AAA, when conditions are snowy or icy, drivers should:
- Go slowly. Please.
- But if you’re going up a hill, recognize that you’re going to need to build up some momentum–otherwise you risk getting stuck halfway. That said, as AAA notes, “Applying extra gas on snow-covered roads just starts your wheels spinning. Try to get a little inertia going before you reach the hill and let that inertia carry you to the top. As you reach the crest of the hill, reduce your speed and proceed down hill as slowly as possible.” But whatever you do, avoid stopping partway up the hill. Odds are, you won’t get going up again.
- Avoid stopping and starting whenever possible. It’s much harder to get going from a full stop–so go slow, and try to time it so you just slowly roll your way through traffic lights.
- Allow eight to ten seconds between your car and the car in front. Pick a landmark, note when the car in front of you passes it– you should pass by the same spot eight seconds later. Odds are you’re too close. Slow down.
- Stay home! Most road fatalities occur not when the roads are covered with snow, but when they look deceptively snow-free… but there’s freezing precipitation coating the roads in ice that’s harder to see. Sounds like a great excuse to stay in and watch The Great British Bake Off.
