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Virginia Expecting First Winter Weather Blast
Sometime this week, probably tonight and Tuesday many Virginia residents will experience a light, wintry mix of rain, sleet and snow. There’s little to no accumulation expected, still this winter weather could make roads slick. Because many of us are planning to travel for Thanksgiving, there’s also the potential for a great number of traffic crashes. Here are some tips for driving on slick roads. Know and understand the road conditions before you begin traveling. In Virginia you can call 5-1-1 for an update and to learn the impact that weather is having on roads. Lights on with your wipers. It’s a Virginia law. If conditions warrant the use of your wipers, please use your headlights, too. This makes you and your vehicle more visible. Slow down. Until you know if the roads are slick, it’s okay to drive slower than the posted speed limit. Driving too fast for conditions might cause you to slide through a stop sign or traffic signal and strike another car or pedestrian. Avoid distractions. If you need to understand road conditions the worst time to do it is when your starting your commute. Call ahead, from home not first thing when you get in the car. Also, set your GPS for your destination before you begin driving. There will be heavy traffic this week, beginning Tuesday, but especially on Wednesday and it will continue through the weekend. Try to give yourself a little extra time to travel so you don’t have to rush. Pay attention to your drive, the roads and other drivers around you. And always avoid distractions. Always. DRIVE SMART, Virginia.