ROANOKE, Va – With heavy winter weather getting closer and closer to Roanoke and the surrounding areas, the ice and snow will begin to pile up on the roads, making it much more hazardous to drive.
According to Sergeant Matthew Mulligan with the Roanoke Police Department, the best way to stay safe on the roads is to not go out on the roads at all.
That way, the professionals can take care of the roads and make them safe for everyone.
“Leave the roads clear so that snow crews can get to them and clear them properly and out down the salt and everything else,” Sgt. Mulligan said.
However, if you really do need to get on the road and brave the elements, there is always the chance that the conditions get worse as you drive.
If those roads get too icy of if the visibility gets low, the safe thing to do is to pull over and wait it out.
“Always try to pull off in the safest part possible,” Sgt. Mulligan said. “If you can get completely off the side of the road into a parking lot, its preferred but try to stay inside your vehicle if you are on the side of the road.”
There are some safety tips to look out for as well.
When driving, don’t slam on the brakes or make any sudden movements with the steering wheel. When that happens, the chances of spinning out drastically go up.
There are also plenty of hazards to watch out for. Pedestrians, ice, piled up snow from the plows and even the snow on top of someone’s car could spell trouble.
“So that snow coming off the top of your car can be extremely dangerous to vehicles behind you,” Sgt. Mulligan said. “It could cause accidents or major damage to vehicles when it flies off and strikes vehicles behind you.”
Make sure to give your fellow driver plenty of space and watch your speed, because the Roanoke Police Department will still be out there to keep our streets safe.
“We’ll be out and enforcing the traffic laws as we do on a daily basis and looking for reckless drivers as we always do,” Sgt. Mulligan said.
