Slush, ice prompt caution

LAKE COUNTY — As snow hits Lake County this week, the importance of safe winter driving habits is once again front and center.

There were several hundred accidents in Lake County during 2009, Sgt. Randy Owens of the Montana Highway Patrol, said.

“A significant amount of those crashes were weather related,” he said. “My biggest advice is to buckle up, slow down and give yourself more time to travel.”

The Montana Department of Transportation agrees with Owens’ tips and adds more in their “Winter Survival Guide” available online (http://dma.mt.gov/des/library/wshandbk02.pdf).

According to the guide, “most fatal crashes involve a single vehicle leaving the road and overturning or hitting something.”

Many people think that since they have four-wheel drive they can drive the same way they do in the summer, Owens said. “When you’re on ice, you’re on ice. It doesn’t matter whether you have four-wheel or two-wheel drive, you still only have four tires on the ground.”

Owens said that ice is always a possibility in the winter. “It’s been 50 degrees outside and I’ve seen patches of ice in the shade,” he said.

Being prepared, for both drivers and vehicles is really important, Owen said.

The MDT recommends preparing your vehicle for the winter before the first freeze even hits. In addition to making sure your vehicle is in a safe condition, MDT recommends checking the brakes, tires, lights, battery and heater, defroster and wipers.

Heaters, wipers and defrosters “are not only for comfort,” the MDT winter survival guide said, “But for safety as well.” All three are necessary for keeping windows clear of snow and ice and to maintain good visibility.

“It’s important to prepare yourself for winter driving,” Owens said. “Be alert for other vehicles and drivers and make sure you are always paying attention to the weather and the conditions. Road conditions can change rapidly.”

Law enforcement can ensure drivers drive safely by issuing tickets for careless driving or not driving in a way safe for conditions.

“There’s a law still on the books saying you can be ticketed for failing to drive in a safe and prudent manner,” Owens said. If a MHP trooper thinks a driver is not being safe, they can ticket them — even if they are under the posted speed limit.

“Speed limits are the posted upper limits,” Owens said. “Put a sign up and people want to drive that fast, but it isn’t always a good idea. You don’t have to go that fast. Don’t go faster than you feel safe.”

Even the best, most prepared drivers can have an accident.

“When that happens, the first thing to do is call 911,” Owen said.

When people roll or slide into a ditch, and there aren’t any injuries or major damage, many people don’t think to call 911, he said.

“But we need to know. Other drivers will call 911 and we’ll have several reports and we don’t know what to expect,” Owes said. “The quicker we know the extent of injuries and damage, the better.”

In Montana, when damage is more than $500, the law requires drivers to call 911.

“And if damage exceeds $1,000, the law requires a written report,” Owen said.

According to Owens and the MDT, the most important thing to remember when driving in the winter time is to slow down.