With possible freezing rain in the forecast, officials encourage safe driving to avoid accidents.
“Obviously, slow down especially at bridges. We had several accidents at bridges. As you see the trucks respect the caution lights and give them room,” Arkansas Highways and Transportation Department District Engineer Don Donaldson said.
It's helpful to practice winter driving techniques in a snowy, open parking lot, so you're familiar with how your car handles, according to WeatherChannel.com. Consult your owner's manual for tips specific to your vehicle, both Donaldson and the Weather Channel recommended.
Tips for driving safely on icy roads they provided include:
1. Decrease your speed and leave yourself plenty of room to stop. You should allow at least three times more space than usual between you and the car in front of you.
2. Brake gently to avoid skidding. If your wheels start to lock up, ease off the brake. Slow before you reach a bridge and coast across avoiding touching the brakes at all. This can result in sliding. Avoid impact to other vehicles or side rails by letting off gas to decrease speed.
3. Turn on your lights to increase your visibility to other motorists.
4. Keep your lights and windshield clean.
5. Use low gears to keep traction, especially on hills.
6. Don't use cruise control or overdrive on icy roads.
7. Be especially careful on bridges, overpasses and infrequently traveled roads, which will freeze first. Even at temperatures above freezing, if the conditions are wet, you might encounter ice in shady areas or on exposed roadways like bridges.
8. Allow snow plows and sanding trucks to do their work. Do not pass until slowing or stopping for the process. The drivers have limited visibility, and you're likely to find the road in front of them worse than the road behind.
9. Don't assume your vehicle can handle all conditions. Even four-wheel and front-wheel drive vehicles can encounter trouble on winter roads.
Donaldson also warned that bridges near curves need to be approached with caution, such as the U.S. Highway 67 overpass between Arkansas Highway108 and Fulton.
“They are negotiating curves on both sides,” he said.
--Stephanie Harris-Smith, Hope Star
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With possible freezing rain in the forecast, officials encourage safe driving to avoid accidents.
“Obviously, slow down especially at bridges. We had several accidents at bridges. As you see the trucks respect the caution lights and give them room,” Arkansas Highways and Transportation Department District Engineer Don Donaldson said.
It's helpful to practice winter driving techniques in a snowy, open parking lot, so you're familiar with how your car handles, according to WeatherChannel.com. Consult your owner's manual for tips specific to your vehicle, both Donaldson and the Weather Channel recommended.
Tips for driving safely on icy roads they provided include:
1. Decrease your speed and leave yourself plenty of room to stop. You should allow at least three times more space than usual between you and the car in front of you.
2. Brake gently to avoid skidding. If your wheels start to lock up, ease off the brake. Slow before you reach a bridge and coast across avoiding touching the brakes at all. This can result in sliding. Avoid impact to other vehicles or side rails by letting off gas to decrease speed.
3. Turn on your lights to increase your visibility to other motorists.
4. Keep your lights and windshield clean.
5. Use low gears to keep traction, especially on hills.
6. Don't use cruise control or overdrive on icy roads.
7. Be especially careful on bridges, overpasses and infrequently traveled roads, which will freeze first. Even at temperatures above freezing, if the conditions are wet, you might encounter ice in shady areas or on exposed roadways like bridges.
8. Allow snow plows and sanding trucks to do their work. Do not pass until slowing or stopping for the process. The drivers have limited visibility, and you're likely to find the road in front of them worse than the road behind.
9. Don't assume your vehicle can handle all conditions. Even four-wheel and front-wheel drive vehicles can encounter trouble on winter roads.
Donaldson also warned that bridges near curves need to be approached with caution, such as the U.S. Highway 67 overpass between Arkansas Highway108 and Fulton.
“They are negotiating curves on both sides,” he said.
--Stephanie Harris-Smith, Hope Star
