Brock: Key To Driving In Snow Slow, Steady

With snow expected beginning Tuesday evening, Van Buren County Sheriff Michael Brock said drivers often create their own problems driving in snow.

Brock said failing to reduce speed and not maintaining a safe following distance between vehicles often leads to accidents. Brock said that the best way to avoid injury when you start sliding, is remain steady with your movements.

“Stay calm because in this situation the thing you wanna do is to avoid sudden movements or avoid a sudden reaction to what’s going on,” Brock said. “So stay calm, the instructions that are given is that steer gently in the direction that you want to go or kinda turn into the slide.”

During snow, Brock said travel five miles per hour below the posted speed limit. Brock said that on bigger roadways to travel even slower.

“On a city street with the speed limit being thirty-five, if someone would reduce to thirty, that would definitely help them,” Brock said. “But uh on some of our larger roadways or more traveled roadways where the speed limit could be that are fifty-five or greater, then a person may want to look at reducing their speed even as low as ten to fifteen miles below the speed limit.”

Brock said to check your coolant levels and ensure your engine is running properly before driving in the snow. He said to bring blankets and extra coats in case of an emergency. Brock said if you have to drive, not to forget about tire tread.

“I don’t have a lot of experience myself with things as far as like chains on tires,” Brock said. “I have not had to do that myself, but people want to make sure they have good tread on their tires and make sure that the tire pressures are where they need to be.”