Northeast Ohio has been hit pretty hard so far in 2019 with some capricious weather. Residents have been dealing with a wild mixture of sleet, freezing rain, heavy snows and bitterly cold temperatures that get followed almost immediately by sudden warm snaps — only to start the cycle all over again.
That means that driving is especially hazardous right now. With that in mind, we want to remind everyone of the rules for driving in Northeast Ohio in the winter:
1. Stay home (if you can).
If you can do it, stay home. While that’s definitely not possible if you have to be at work, you can avoid going out in bad weather as often as possible by watching the weather reports and stocking up on groceries and other essentials before major weather hits. Reschedule unnecessary appointments when possible and curl up with a good book or binge-watch your favorite show instead of going out.
2. Clean off your whole car.
Every year, there seems to be one driver out there who will clear off only their front windshield before hitting the road — not realizing that all that snow on the roof of the car is going to come tumbling down and obscure their vision at some unforeseen moment. That sort of thing can lead to a very foreseeable wreck — so don’t do it.
3. Give other drivers extra space.
Allow extra space to stop. It can be a lot tricker than you think to stop your car if you hit a patch of black ice or snow. Don’t tailgate and slow your speed when driving in inclement wintry weather.
4. Avoid hills — or take them slowly.
If at all possible, look for an alternative route that doesn’t take you up and down a lot of hills — even if your commute is longer. If it isn’t possible to avoid the hills, take them very slowly.
5. Be kind to road crews.
Those salt trucks often can’t see you — especially if you’re driving too close behind them. Give them twice the space you’d leave another vehicle — or more.
None of these tips guarantees that you’ll avoid an accident, but you will reduce your chances. If you are in an accident due to another driver’s mistake, find out more about your right to compensation for your injuries by contacting our office.