Tips for icy road safety in Connecticut

When winter weather hits Connecticut roads, drivers should be aware of certain techniques and precautions that will help prevent accidents.

Snowy weather can occasionally create problems on the road for drivers in Connecticut. When the roads freeze over, certain areas will get more coverage from towing and salting routes than others, and people need to adapt the ways they drive in order to be safe. While the Department of Transportation’s switch to a higher salt-content mixture has improved road safety, it is still important for drivers to know certain snow-driving techniques which, if properly implemented, will improve the odds of avoiding accidents and unwanted injuries.

Safe practices when the going gets slick

The primary danger when winter weather affects roads is due to the lack of friction, which can greatly increase stopping distances and lead to vehicles slipping and skidding. The following list from the Connecticut Department of Transportation covers the basics of how to handle these situations:

· Always wearing a seatbelt is not just important because it is against the law to go without one. A skidding or sliding vehicle can throw passengers around if they are not buckled up.

· Cars moving in a line in a snowy road have created an impression in the road where traffic can flow through at a predictable pace. Trying to go around them is not only risking a collision with unseen snow-covered obstacles, but also blocks the paths used by emergency snow vehicles.

· One of the most important ways to prevent accidents when the roads are snowy or icy is to triple the stopping distance between vehicles, especially when moving at speeds above 30mph. This includes anticipating upcoming intersections and beginning to slow down as soon as possible when approaching one.

· If a vehicle begins skidding, the best way to regain traction is to pull off of the brake and use the wheel to guide it in the correct direction. This way it will regain traction much more quickly than it will when the wheels are locked up by the brakes.

· If there is wet ice or sleet, the road can be even slicker than when it is below zero degrees.

· Tires make a big difference in snow performance, and the key here is to have tires with deep treads that are made of a material soft enough to get traction in the snow. Worn out tires are going to slide all over the place on ice.

All drivers should plan to spend extra time navigating in snowy conditions, and should plan on taking extra time to complete their trips. Going fast is pointless if it leads to a car accident.

Anyone in Connecticut who has wound up in an auto-accident due to bad road conditions is going to have their share of difficulties. Medical costs are expensive, and some people sustain injuries at no fault of their own. Anyone looking for legal guidance in these kinds of situations may benefit from consulting an attorney in the local area who practices motor vehicle accident law.