By Staff
Mother Nature has been fairly nice to us so far this winter season. The temperatures have been very mild, allowing us to enjoy some very nice days. People have enjoyed working in the yard and even doing outdoor sports such as golfing and disc golf on days when the temperatures hit the 50 degree mark.
Some people, however, would much rather see the snow and get a more "wintery" feeling this time of year. The snowless months have put a hold on some of our most favorite outdoor activities such as snowmobiling, skiing and ice fishing.
Monday morning we woke up to the first snowfall in quite some time. Though not much covered the ground and it still could be a while before people can hit the slopes and trails, it still made for a big mess on the roads. Unfortunately, some drivers forget how to drive when conditions become dangerous. Just because you have 4-wheel drive or cannot see ice on the road doesn't mean you're safe.
Main roads are always the first to be plowed as they are the heaviest-traveled roads. Still, take every precaution possible and watch your speed as roads can be slick even after the plow trucks sweep by.
It's important to know your vehicle and how it operates. Not all cars respond the same to slippery roads. Knowing how to handle your vehicle and how it responds in various weather conditions is important.
Always maintain a good distance from vehicles in front of you. The most important thing to remember when driving on slick roads is that you must travel, steer and brake more slowly than usual. The distance needed to stop on ice is twice as long as what you would need to brake under normal driving circumstances. This means you should keep at least a three car distance from the vehicle directly in front of you.