BY TINA L. SCOTT
EDITOR
As measurable winter snow finally arrived in Lincoln County earlier this week, drivers are reminded that their approach to driving in winter should be adapted to weather and road conditions. Winter storms can definitely impact travel plans. Road conditions and visibility can deteriorate quickly based on precipitation and blowing winds.
Utilize an app on your phone to stay abreast of changing weather conditions or watch the news for weather forecasts from the National Weather Service. A press release earlier this week from the Wisconsin Department of Transportation (WisDOT) reminded drivers to be weather aware and “know before you go” with 511 Wisconsin at 511wi.gov or via the mobile app. This allows travelers to monitor winter road conditions and view live videos from traffic cameras along their route. Locally, there are also Facebook Groups dedicated to keeping area residents abreast of rapidly changing road conditions based on their personal experience, such as the “Road Conditions – Marathon County Highways 29/51” Facebook Group which is updated frequently.
According to the Wisconsin State Patrol and the WisDOT, winter weather contributed to nearly 19,000 crashes in Wisconsin last season (Oct. 2022 to May 2023). Those incidents led to 39 deaths and 3,799 injuries. Most of those crashes happened in December and January when winter conditions typically begin to ramp up. This year winter weather is a little late to arrive, so a few annual reminders are timely now.
Advance preparation before winter travel
A lot of winter driving stress, inconvenience, potential accidents, and even motor vehicle deaths and injuries can be minimized or avoided altogether with advance planning.
- Carry a Winter Emergency Vehicle Supply Kit in your car
- Bring along extra water, transported in the passenger area of your vehicle and remove it if/when your vehicle will be sitting outside for long periods of time to prevent freezing
- Keep your cell phone fully charged before and during traveling
- Fill the windshield washer fluid, check the oil, and fill the gas tank before leaving or at the start of your trip
- Check weather forecasts and road conditions as outlined above
- Leave early and allow extra time for traveling to avoid rushing
- Clear all snow and ice from your vehicle before you start out
- Tell others where you are going and when you are leaving, along with the route you plan to travel and expected travel and arrival times
Especially while traveling in winter …
The Wisconsin State Patrol and WisDOT contributed to the following winter driving tips.
- Phone down, eyes on the road (Set your phone so it doesn’t alert you to calls and messages while driving). Every trip, every time.
- Stay focused on driving and eliminate any distractions such as a loud radio, etc.
- Always wear your seatbelt and be sure children are also properly restrained in age-appropriate car seats or booster seats. Be sure all passengers are also buckled up.
- Be patient and expect to encounter snowplows and other possible delays.
- Snow means slow. Many winter crashes and slide offs are caused by drivers going too fast in hazardous conditions. Speed limits are set for when roads are clear and dry, so it may be too dangerous to drive the speed limit in slippery conditions.
- Be cautious on bridges, overpasses, and entrance and exit ramps.
- Increase following distance. Stay farther back from all vehicles to allow more time to stop if needed.
- Don’t be overconfident in four-wheel or all-wheel-drive vehicles. All vehicles require additional time and distance to stop in adverse conditions. And all vehicles are rendered fairly ineffective on glare ice.
- Don’t use cruise control in winter conditions.
- Leave room for maintenance vehicles and snowplows. Stay at least 200 feet behind a working snowplow. (Wisconsin State Law requires vehicles to stay at least 200 feet behind a working snowplow on a road with a posted speed limit more than 35 mph and at least 75 feet behind a working snowplow on a road with a posted speed limit under 35 mph.) Make sure that you can see the plow’s mirrors to ensure the driver can see you.
- Move over or slow down for stopped emergency vehicles and carefully navigate around other vehicles that may have crashed, slid off the road, or become stranded or inoperable.
- In case of a crash or slide off or if you get stranded, stay buckled up in the vehicle, turn on the hazards/flashers, call 911 for help, and move vehicle(s) out of traffic if possible. Getting out of the vehicle is very dangerous, especially in winter weather.
Snowplow courtesy
The Wisconsin State Patrol urges caution as we head into winter weather, to ensure snowplow drivers are able to clear roads safely throughout the season. Highway departments spend hours working to clear the roads for safe travel after every snowfall, plowing nearly 115,000 miles of roads across the state. There were nearly 300 crashes involving snowplows in Wisconsin last year.
Crews are often working when other drivers are also on the roads, which can lead to dangerous conditions, and snow plows must travel slowly to effectively clear the roads. In addition to the laws cited above requiring drivers to stay at least 200 feet behind a working snowplow on most roads, avoid trying to pass a snowplow. Instead, just be patient and maintain the appropriate distance. Plows often create a cloud of snow that can obscure visibility. Plus, road conditions ahead of a plow are likely worse.
If you do decide to pass, use extreme caution and keep as much distance as possible. The snowplow’s wing blade can extend up to 10 feet beyond the width of the truck. Many snowplow wing blades are hit each season by vehicles attempting to pass a snowplow, the Wisconsin State Patrol and WisDOT said.
WINTER EMERGENCY VEHICLE SUPPLY KIT
What to include in your kit:
- Blanket(s), hat(s), mittens or gloves for everyone traveling
- Prepackaged hand warmers and foot warmers
- Winter boots
- First aid kit
- Ice scraper, snow brush, and possibly a small shovel
- Non-clumping kitty litter or bag of sand (for traction if you get stuck)
- Flashlight(s) with extra fresh batteries (check them seasonally)
- Multi-tool
- Jumper cables
- Cell phone, cell phone charger, and adapter
- Non-perishable snacks