47ABC learns to drive in snowy and icy conditions

Snow can be fun, and stunning to look at, resembling a beautiful blanket of white covering everything, including roads.

However, that road coverage can make driving chaotic. In fact, 1.5 million crashes are associated with poor driving conditions caused by weather every year. About 800,000 people are injured and roughly 7,000 are killed.  

47ABC hopped in the car with John Wright, owner of Drive on Time, a driver’s school in Salisbury. He showed 47ABC the ropes while navigating through about 8 inches of snow.

Wright says, “The biggest thing is take your time reduce your speed. I tell kids all the time it’s not rocket science.”

Driving instructors say when the snow piles up, it can get stuck underneath the vehicle. This can raise up the car, and cause the tires to lose traction.

Wright goes on, “We refer to that as being high centered. You certainly want to try and maintain momentum otherwise you could actually get stuck.”

Wright says the safest move, is to stay home. Some of the most experienced drivers can have a hard time in snowy and icy conditions.

However, if you have to go out, he says it’s important to know your brakes. “Pumping” is apparently an old school method and these days most cars have anti- lock breaks.  

With anti- lock breaks, drivers should just apply steady pressure and focus on steering out of harms- way.

Also, don’t speed up hills. At night, Wright says it’s important to ease off the accelerator even more in case of ice. All of these tips should be helpful in keeping yourself and others safe on the roads.