What to know before driving in snow
COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)
When winter weather hits, the best thing to do is stay off the road. If that's not possible, the next best thing is to be prepared.
The ABC 17 Stormtrack Weather Team issued a Weather Alert Day for Wednesday and Thursday because of the threat of snow and sleet. The combination of precipitation and freezing temperatures makes for less than ideal driving conditions, and while officials recommend everyone stay off the roads, there are unavoidable situations. If you find yourself needing to travel during this week's winter weather event, it's best to be prepared for the worst.
Preparing your car
There are several things drivers should check for on their vehicle before heading out into the wintry weather. ABC 17 News spoke with mechanic Ben Webb from Custom Complete Automotive for past Weather Alert Days about preparing cars for freezing temperatures.
The four areas Webb recommended drivers check before driving in below-freezing temperatures are tire pressure, radiator fluid, windshield wipers and the battery. These are all the areas that can be drastically affected by a drop in temperatures when not properly maintained.
Driving in the snow
Crpl. Kyle Green with Missouri State Highway Patrol Troop F said there are a couple of things drivers should keep in mind while driving in wintry conditions. Green asks drivers to stay off the roads when possible but understands sometimes people have to go somewhere.
Before starting your journey, Green recommends making sure you have plenty of gas, a fully charged phone, and necessities in the car, such as water and blankets.
If you find yourself in an emergency situation, like sliding off the road or crashing, stay in your car until emergency services can come to help you.
"If you were to find yourself in a ditch on the side of the road, we recommend that everybody stay in the vehicle," said Green. "If you're outside the vehicle, you run the risk that somebody else could come along and slide off in that area and strike you. So, at least by staying in the vehicle, you have the protection of your car itself."
Green said most slide-off accidents the highway patrol responds to are caused by speed, so he encourages people to drive very slowly.
"If you're going slower than you think you should, that's probably a good thing," Green said.
