By: Matthew Rutkowski 

     The winter can bring harsh conditions out on the road that all drivers need to watch out for while driving. Failure to acknowledge these conditions could lead to property damage, injury, or death from uncontrollably sliding off the road or getting into an accidental collision.  

     Preparation and driving with care are key to optimizing your safety while on the road in the winter. For preparation, you should wipe all the snow off your windshield and check your vehicle’s tire pressure before you get on the road. Wiping your windshield thoroughly is an important part of this preparation because it allows you to get the input you need to prevent accidents before you get into them. Additionally, checking your tire pressure before you get on the road can make you aware that your vehicle will break slower and have reduced traction on it. If you do find your vehicle having tires with low tire pressure, you can use an air compressor to reinflate the tires. If you do not have an air compressor sitting around, you may have to get on the road and drive cautiously to your nearest gas station with a tire air pump. 

     Preparing to drive helps you reach optimal safety while driving in the winter, but how you drive is where it counts. According to the CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention), 21% of all annual vehicle crashes are weather-related. To keep out of this 21%, you should have optimal focus on the road, follow the everyday rules of the road, drive slower than usual, and put extra space between you and other drivers. If you are someone who usually stays constant with the posted speed limit or drives five to ten miles per hour over this speed limit, you should try to adapt yourself to go a few miles per hour under it. Additionally, if you find yourself directly behind someone else, the CDC advises that you drive 5-6 seconds behind them. 

     Mr. Robert Musi is a science teacher at EMHS and has been interviewed by The Squire for his responses to questions about safe driving in the winter. As a teacher who has a long commute to Eisenhower each day, he is an experienced driver and knows the harsh conditions that the winter can bring to the road. The questions he was asked and the responses he gave are listed below. 

The Squire: What precautions do you take before driving in the winter? 

MM: I drive an all-wheel drive SUV with good snow tires. If I know the weather will be particularly bad, I will fill up the gas tank too. 

TS: How do you drive safely during the winter months? 

MM: I slow down when the roads are bad, or visibility is bad due to falling or blowing snow. 

TS: What would you do if you started sliding uncontrollably on an icy road? 

MM: I would ease off the gas and steer to the side to regain control. 

TS: What do you see as the biggest dangers while driving in the winter?  

MM: Other than driving in freezing rain, the behavior of other drivers is the biggest danger. I can control what I do, but I can’t control what they do. Many times, I have seen drivers speed past me on icy roads and later pass them after they slid off the road. 

TS: How do you deal with aggressive drivers during the winter months? 

MM: I slow down and let them pass. 

     The Squire thanks Mr. Musi for giving excellent insight into driving safely during the winter months. Remember, the winter is just beginning, and it is not coming to an end anytime soon. Make sure to stay safe while on the road this winter.