With the winter weather expected to be here soon, local law enforcement is reminding people to plan ahead and take it easy on the roads while we get acclimated back to driving in wintry conditions.
Michigan State Police Trooper Cody Campbell said as soon as the snow hits, the calls go up.
“The first snowfall always tends to catch everybody off guard. Obviously, it’s been quite a while since we’ve all had to drive through the snow,” said Campbell.
Everything from accidents, slide-offs, people in ditches and people stranded. He said all of that can be prevented.
“Speed is the biggest factor when it comes to stranded motorists or accidents in the wintertime. So slow down, increase your following distance, and just schedule your day accordingly,” said Campbell.
He said people should be taking it easy especially in high traffic areas, like intersections.
“People are turning, braking, accelerating, and all that has [an] effect on the roadway conditions. So normally your intersections are going to be a little more slippery than the normal roadway will be,” said Campbell.
Campbell has some reminders to stay safe. He said try to leave earlier, take your time, and be aware of your surroundings. All of that can make a difference in getting to your destination safely,” said Campbell.
“It’s up to us to drive a little more defensively and have some empathy towards the other drivers that might not be as comfortable. just because the speed limit is 55 doesn’t mean that that’s a safe speed to travel at that given point in time,” said Campbell.
He also says it’s good to have a preparedness kit
“Make sure you have blankets, gloves, and a flashlight. I know a lot of people rely on their cell phone, but the cold weather seems to do a number on cell phone batteries,” said Campbell.
Campbell said there are things you can do to prepare in case you’re stuck in a ditch or on the road.
He said having at least half a tank of gas to make sure you can keep the car warm and maybe some snacks if you have little ones or pets, is a good idea.
Also, Campbell said to stay in your vehicle with your seat belt fastened if you happen to get stuck.
“There might be a chance of a secondary crash. You know, maybe somebody doesn’t see you and, you know, crashes into your vehicle,” said Campbell.
Campbell said we go through this transition every year in Northern Michigan.
“It’s just a style of driving that we need to be accustomed to again,” said Campbell.
The shop manager of Cadillac Tire, James Thomas said since the temperatures started dropping, they have been very busy with calls and walk-ins. Customers are making appointments for preventative maintenance measures before the snow flies.
Thomas said it’s important to plan ahead now, to save yourself headaches later.
“A lot of people come in here getting their maintenance done on their cars, brakes, steering suspension as well as tires, making sure the tires are good for the winter and or switching to winter tires. There’s safety issues involved, if you have a vehicle that’s not up to par or has bad tires on it,” said Thomas.
Thomas said he recommends people have their cars checked once or twice a year.
He said vehicles that go unchecked are more prone to sliding off the road or blow-outs.
He also warned drivers to watch out for black ice. He said that’s the number one cause of accidents.
