Nine tips for safe winter driving | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Milwaukee County Sheriff’s Office
January 23, 2019
The Milwaukee County Sheriff’s Office offers the following tips for safe driving in winter conditions:
1.Remember that excessive speed and following too close contribute to crashes in winter weather. Reduce your speed to match road conditions. Double or even triple your following distance: instead of keeping two car lengths between you and the car in front of you, maintain a following distance of four or even six car lengths.
2. Wear your seatbelt. It’s the law.
3. Make sure that your headlights are on.
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4. Slow down and prepare to stop. When stopping your vehicle, don’t wait until the last possible second. Four-wheel drive may help get your vehicle moving, but it doesn’t help you slow down or stop.
5. If you are in a ditch: Turn on your hazard lights, remain in your vehicle, and call 911.
6. If you are in a crash and your vehicle is still drivable: drive off the freeway to the nearest available exit. Once you have removed your vehicle from the freeway, call 911 or MCSO’s non-emergency number, 414-278-4788.
7. If you are in a crash and your vehicle is not movable, or you are injured, turn on your hazard lights, remain in your vehicle with your seatbelt on, and call 911. You may self-report a crash using our online reporting system within 24 hours of the incident. Go to mkesheriff.org and, under the Quick Links header, click “Report a Crash or Accident.”
8. Remember to move over for emergency personnel: The Move Over Law requires all drivers to move over or slow down for emergency vehicles and personnel working on the freeway.
9. Be aware that all disabled vehicles must be towed during snow conditions.