If, like me, you work at a place where snow days don't exist (can you imagine the uproar if we decided not to put out a paper one day because of snow!), and you have no choice but to brave driving on back roads, municipal streets, Route 30 and Interstate 83 to get to and from your job, you will probably understand -- and agree with -- the following tips.
If you are lucky and can stay home when the flakes start to fall, please -- whether you're religious or not -- pray for the rest of us and follow at least the last tip.
1. If you are scared of driving in snow, DON'T. If you're on the road, gripping the steering wheel so hard your knuckles turn blue and you're about to hyperventilate, you're a hazard to everyone else and more likely to cause an accident.
2. Clear your car completely. Yes, that means cleaning off more than just a peephole -- and certainly anything that could fly off and cause injury to another driver. If you drive a truck, read this particular tip over and over until it is etched in your mind and part of your modus operandi when bad weather hits.
3. Try to maintain a constant speed. Accelerating and then hitting the brakes is only going to get you in trouble. You'll spin, you'll slide, the car behind you will rear-end you.
4. If you do begin to slide or spin, DO NOT slam on the brakes. That will only make it worse. Go with it and use the steering wheel to correct. If you are afraid of this, take your car to a nearby (empty) parking lot and practice before you have to do it on the interstate with an 18-wheeler in the next lane.
5. Call your state representative. Ask if they will vote to send PennDOT workers on a field trip to upstate New York so they can spend time learning from folks who know how to keep the highways safe during month after month of ice and snow.
Oh, and would someone please tell Mother Nature it's only five days until spring?
Or send them to Maryland. What a difference it is when you cross the Mason-Dixon Line.
Hey.....nice post!!
Awesome, No more words to explain :) :) :D just....cool blog.
Great post! Maybe you could do a follow up on this topic?
Great post! Maybe you could do a follow up on this topic?