In January of this following a severe winter storm that hit much of the Northeast, highways in Kentucky and Ohio experienced terrible accidents that left the roads closed for several days. One accident in Kentucky resulted in a 41 car pile-up that left six people critically injured. The accident caused a fuel tanker to overturn and spill several thousand gallons of fuel oil onto the road. In Ohio, that same storm helped cause an accident that resulted in a 23 car pile-up that also shut the highway down for some time. It goes without saying that the culprit here was icy roads. However, icy roads alone do not create accidents. Careless drivers who drive too fast and who do not maintain enough caution in their driving also factor into these figures. Many newer vehicles have Electronic Stabilization Control built in as a safety feature. Not only do these features provide extra safety in hazardous road conditions, insurance companies lower their rates for cars that have them, especially if a driver lives in Ohio and Kentucky when icy roads are common throughout the winter months.
The biggest problem with drivers and icy roads is speed. Everyone knows that speed kills, but drivers are often very unaware of how fast they should be traveling over icy roads. Accidents tend to be fewer when the road is covered with snow than ice. Icy roads give fewer visual indicators of danger than snow cover. This is especially true if bridges become icy. One small patch of ice can cause total loss of control. The trouble with ice on the roads is that it often forms in patches, and a driver may drive for long stretches before encountering sections of ice, which can result in a driver lowering their guard and not being as cautious as they should. Snow cover can also become packed from dense traffic, and this can create icy conditions on the road that will become worse the more people drive over it. Winter precipitation does not have to be in the form of snowfall. Ice cover can come from freezing rain and sleet. Speeds of over 45 miles per hour in any of these conditions are the most attributable factor to accidents occurring in icy conditions.
Besides speed, the other factor contributing to accidents on icy roads is over-steering. This is when a driver overcompensates for a sudden loss of vehicle control by making too great and too fast a turn with the steering wheel. In this instance, too, it is the speed that kills. Drivers also make the mistake of slamming on the brakes too hard when their vehicles slide on ice. This takes away any momentum and traction that the car has on the actual road surface. The proper way to deal with a car that slides on ice is to very gently begin pumping the brakes. This way the driver gently reduces the speed and the momentum of the car. While pumping the brakes, the driver should gently turn the steering wheel into the direction of the turn. Once the vehicle begins to straighten out, the driver should very gently bring the steering wheel back so as to not continue in the other direction.
The key to avoid any icy road accident is to remain calm and slow down. Being aware of one’s surroundings is also key as a driver in these conditions, and not letting the speed of the driver’s around you dictate how one should drive. Icy roads are dangerous, and life is too short.
– Frank James writes for several insurance blogs and suggests finding cheap Ohio car insurance quotes or compare Kentucky auto insurance rates on the internet.
