Wet roads could become icy overnight
AMES, Iowa – Jan. 10, 2011 – The light snow that has been falling in Iowa for the last several hours is melting on some Iowa roadways. If temperatures dip significantly overnight, the melting snow could quickly refreeze, causing dangerous ice to form.
Melted snow or ice that refreezes may still look deceivingly like a dry road. Wet bridges and overpasses are most likely to freeze before the surrounding roadway.
The Iowa Department of Transportation (DOT) offers the following tips to motorists who find themselves faced with driving on icy roads.
- If your vehicle begins to slide, take your foot off the gas pedal and shift into neutral, or if you have a manual transmission, depress the clutch. While it may be a natural instinct to slam on your brakes, this will only cause you to lose control of your vehicle and it will slide even more. Tap the brake pedal lightly instead of pushing down hard on it.
- If you have an idea that there may be ice ahead (if you see vehicles ahead of you sliding, for example), downshift to a lower gear before you come onto the ice. The lower gear will force you to drive more slowly and give you better control of the vehicle.
- If your vehicle does begin to skid on the ice, turn the wheel in the direction of the skid. This should help to steer your vehicle back on the right track.
- Leave plenty of space between your vehicle and the others on the road. Stay well behind the vehicle in front of you – this is definitely not the time to tailgate. Even if you feel confident that you know how to drive safely on ice, that does not mean the driver in front of you does. Be prepared in case other vehicles start to slide.
- Do not think you are invincible just because you drive a four-wheel drive truck or sports utility vehicle. Four-wheel drive vehicles have no advantage over other vehicles when it comes to driving on ice.
- Be sure that you and others in your vehicle wear their seat belts.
Winter driving is always unpredictable, so be prepared for the unexpected.
#
Editor's note: "Ice and Snow … Take It Slow" logo image is available to download at the following link "Ice and Snow ... Take It Slow"