What is the best way to drive in snow and ice? Don’t.
That is ideal, but not always possible. With more than 7 inches of snowfall recorded in Louisville and even more snowfall on Monday, some commuters may still have to be on the road.
Before you scrape the ice off your windshield and get into your car, you may want to check that road conditions are safe. Here’s how to do that in Kentucky and how to stay safe if you have to drive.
Live updates: Louisville remains under a winter storm warning Monday
How to check road conditions on Kentucky highways
Find the latest traffic alerts from the Kentucky Office of Highway Safety at goky.ky.gov.
Is my street plowed? How to watch live snow removal in louisville
The Louisville/Jefferson County Information Consortium maintains a map showing which roads are on the Metro Snow Route and which have been plowed and salted. Check it out at apps.lojic.org/metrosnowroutes.
How can you reduce the risk while driving in the snow?
Don’t be a jerk (no, really). The key to safe driving when there is ice on the road, writes Car And Driver Magazine, is to operate the steering wheel, accelerator and brakes as smoothly as possible. Jerky movements – suddenly turning the steering wheel or slamming your foot on the brake or accelerator pedal – can send your car into a skid.
In particular, keep the following in mind when driving in snowy or icy weather:
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🚨Pay attention to brake lights in front of you compared to other vehicles
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↔️ Leave more space between cars
What to do if your vehicle skids?
If your car starts to skid on an icy road, do the following:
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Take your foot off the accelerator and not hit the brakes.
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Look at the direction you want to go, not where your car is going.
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For one front wheel skiddingwrites Car and Driver Magazine, point your vehicle where you want to go. Gently turn the handlebars in the direction of the skid. If you are in a rear wheel skidding – where the rear tires lose traction and you feel yourself starting to spin – turn the wheel in the same direction the rear end is sliding. For example, if your rear wheels slide to the left, turn the wheel to the left.
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If necessary, apply the brakes lightly to get out of the skid.
How to prepare for winter driving
Staying safe on Indiana’s roads during a winter storm can largely depend on how well prepared you are. The Indiana Department of Transportation offers these tips:
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Knowledge: Before you leave home, inquire about driving conditions. Safe drivers know the weather and their limits. If the weather is bad, remember, “Ice and snow, take it easy,” or just don’t go.
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Clearly: Remove any snow from your vehicle’s windows, lights, brake lights and signals. Make sure you can see and be seen.
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Inspect: Check your vehicle’s tires, wiper blades, fluids, lights, belts and hoses. A breakdown is annoying on a good day and dangerous on a day with bad weather.
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Time: Allow enough time to reach your destination safely. It is not worth putting yourself and others in a dangerous situation just to be on time.
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Kit: Keep a basic winter survival kit in your vehicle, including a flashlight, batteries, blanket, snacks, water, gloves, boots and a first aid kit. Load your car with winter gear, including snow chains, ice scraper/snow brush, jumper cables and road lights.
Weather information you need
🚨 Weather warnings for Indiana: Warnings, watches and advice.
⚡ Map of power outages in Indiana: How to check your status.
💻 Internet disruptions: How to track them.
🚫 What you should and shouldn’t do when the power goes out.
🐶 Your neighbor left his pet outside. Who to call.
🏠 It’s cold outside! Where to find shelter.
Live weather radar for the Louisville area
John Tufts covers trending news for IndyStar and Midwest Connect. Send him a news tip at JTufts@Gannett.com. Find him on BlueSky at JohnWritesStuff.
This article originally appeared in the Louisville Courier Journal: Road conditions in Louisville can make commuting difficult. How to stay safe
