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SALT LAKE CITY — With the winter season returning to Utah, motorists will once again have to the deal with the headaches associated with driving in snow.
Almost 18 percent of all crashes, including 10 percent of all fatal crashes, that occurred on Utah roads from 2012 through 2016 happened in inclement weather, according to Utah Department of Public Safety data. While rainy conditions have produced more injuries and fatal crashes over the same timeframe, snow crashes have been more frequent.
From 2012 to 2016, 15,700 crashes involving property damage were reported while it was either snowing or blowing snow. In comparison, 10,903 crashes were reported during other forms of precipitation, according to the data.
With so many crashes on Utah roadways associated with snow, here are some useful tips from law enforcement and government officials to ensure safety during a wintry commute.
1. Be prepared
Being prepared for the winter season is perhaps the best way to increase safety on the roadway, Utah Highway Patrol Lt. Todd Royce said. One of the most important ways to be prepared for travel, he said, is to make sure your tires have good threads on them, like snow tires.
“That’s probably one of the biggest things you can do during winter driving,” he said, noting winter tires stay more flexible during cold weather to allow better traction on the roadway. In addition, he recommended taking good care of windshield wipers for better visibility and keeping extra winter clothes stored in the vehicle.
Having plenty of fuel in your vehicle during the winter is another recommendation he gives because commutes may be longer in wintry conditions. A change of mindset always helps, Royce said.
“After we’ve had a long period of summer and fall driving, people have a tendency to forget a little bit about how to drive in inclement weather,” he said.
2. Slow down and spread out
Posted speed limits are great for perfect weather conditions and not for inclement weather, Royce notes. Most of the crashes in poor weather conditions are speed related, he added.
“As the roads get wet and snowy, you definitely reduce your speed,” he said. “You need to reduce your speed and increase your following distance. It’ll give you time to react if something goes bad and it will lessen your possibilities of losing control on the slick surface. … The faster you go, the less traction you have.”
3. Use caution on bridges
As the Utah Department of Safety points out, bridges tend to ice over before other parts of roadways, so while a roadway may be wet, the bridge may be icy. This is because a bridge is more exposed to air than the road surface, so it cools faster, according to Dan Robinson of icyroadsafety.com.
4. Steer into a skid
If you’re already skidding, ease off the gas pedal (don't slam the brakes) and steer in the direction your car is going, the Utah Department of Public Safety said.
Icyroadsafety.com produced this helpful video on what to do in the situation you lose control while driving on icy roads. Robinson also said don’t panic or overcorrect if you start to slide.
5. Wear a seat belt
This recommendation is less weather-related, as Royce said drivers should wear their seat belts at all times.
However, he said it’s equally important to get back inside your vehicle and wear a seat belt if your vehicle is unable to be moved from a roadway during inclement weather.
The better option, he said, is to move your vehicle off a roadway, if possible.
In all, make sure to take the proper precautions when driving in wintry conditions.
