The Oklahoma Snowpocalypse Is Approaching!

“The Oklahoma Snowpocalypse is approaching! Quick! Get to the grocery store and buy every loaf of bread, milk, and roll of toilet paper they have left!”

Although somewhat funny how us Okies react to the approach of inclement weather, the reality is that Oklahomans don’t know much about safe driving in winter weather conditions. It’s been several years since Green Country received a serious dose of winter weather, and most folks just don’t know how to drive in the event the roads become slick. Although we are sure that our clients are better than most at safely driving on snow and ice, you cannot trust the other drivers. There will be many serious car and truck accidents in Tulsa over the next 72 hours, and  the best way that you can avoid serious personal injury is to stay home and avoid driving. For those who absolutely must get out there and join the crazies stocking up on last-minute runs for milk and beer, here are some helpful tips from AAA:

Tips for driving in the snow:
•    Accelerate and decelerate slowly. Applying the gas slowly to accelerate is the best method for regaining traction and avoiding skids. Don’t try to get moving in a hurry. And take time to slow down for a stoplight. Remember: It takes longer to slow down on icy roads.
•    Drive slowly. Everything takes longer on snow-covered roads. Accelerating, stopping, turning – nothing happens as quickly as on dry pavement. Give yourself time to maneuver by driving slowly.
•    The normal dry pavement following distance of three to four seconds should be increased to eight to ten seconds. This increased margin of safety will provide the longer distance needed if you have to stop.
•    Know your brakes. Whether you have antilock brakes or not, the best way to stop is threshold breaking. Keep the heel of your foot on the floor and use the ball of your foot to apply firm, steady pressure on the brake pedal.
•    Don’t stop if you can avoid it. There’s a big difference in the amount of inertia it takes to start moving from a full stop versus how much it takes to get moving while still rolling. If you can slow down enough to keep rolling until a traffic light changes, do it.
•    Don’t power up hills. Applying extra gas on snow-covered roads just starts your wheels spinning. Try to get a little inertia going before you reach the hill and let that inertia carry you to the top. As you reach the crest of the hill, reduce your speed and proceed downhill as slowly as possible.
•    Don’t stop going up a hill. There’s nothing worse than trying to get moving up a hill on an icy road. Get some inertia going on a flat roadway before you take on the hill.
•    Stay home. If you really don’t have to go out, don’t. Even if you can drive well in the snow, not everyone else can. Don’t tempt fate: If you don’t have somewhere you have to be, watch the snow from indoors.

Additionally, AAA published a brochure that includes detailed information on “how to go in ice and snow”, which can be downloaded here.

The Tulsa car accident lawyers of Wandres Law are dedicated to the safety of all Oklahoma drivers. If you need to be out on the roads tonight, please be careful and take the precautions listed above. Don’t forget that you aren’t the only one out there, and other more careless drivers can cause a catastrophic accident or injury despite your best and most careful efforts.

If you or a loved one has sustained a personal injury due to the carelessness of another driver, we can help.  Call Wandres Law today at 918-641-4044 to schedule a free consultation with an experienced Tulsa car accident lawyer.