RALEIGH, N.C. — North Carolina is in the winter weather season. With sleet and/or freezing rain coating the roads, that makes driving dangerous.
One expert shares some tips on how you can stay safe if you have to drive in the elements.
Savannah Gregory trains drivers for safety and success.
She is the director of Drivers of the Future, a driving school based in Raleigh, North Carolina.
Gregory dedicates over 30 hours each week to instructing drivers who are beginners, anxious, or new to the state’s laws.
“The issue in North Carolina is not that it’s unpredictable. It’s that it’s unfamiliar,” Gregory said.
This week, the driving instructor is preparing everyone for the roads that come along with winter weather.
“In this area in particular, we have some of the most adverse winter weather conditions in the sense that roads are not treated as aggressively as they are up north,” Gregory said.
Gregory said a major concern during the winter weather months — black ice.
Related: Icy roads cause a 10-13 car pile-up in Winston-Salem. How to stay safe
It’s slippery, but it’s also virtually undetectable. Gregory said it’s best to take it slow and be careful on highways, especially near bridges and overpasses.
She also said to leave a space between you and other drivers.
“You’re following distance. It’s going to increase from 2 to 3 seconds to somewhere around 9 to 10, potentially,” Gregory explained.
In addition, Gregory said braking and accelerating should be smooth, not abrupt.
She said drivers should be going slower than the posted speed limit during this time.
“And keep in mind that traction is your currency when it comes to winter weather, and once you spend it, it is no longer there,” Gregory said.
Slippery roads caused a series of crashes on I-40 in Orange County, involving more than 50 vehicles early last year.
The State Highway Patrol said it responded to nearly 1,200 collisions statewide around the same time.
Gregory, unfazed, stated that driving in poor weather conditions, such as heavy rain, snow, ice, or extreme heat, often leads to dangerous situations or unforeseen delays.
“Sometimes it’s the safest choice to not drive at all,” Gregory said.
Gregory said during her five years of operating, she’s heard some of the most dangerous stories of drivers being hurt or injured are due to slippery road conditions.
She thinks it’s best to play it safe.
Follow us on Instagram at spectrumnews1nc for news and other happenings across North Carolina.
Jatrissa Wooten, Spectrum News Staff
Source link