Safety tips for driving in bad weather: A message from state and local law enforcement

Preparing yourself for harsh cold weather is important when driving out on the roads. This winter has been rough, with icy roads and wet or slippery conditions. It is the time of year when accidents can happen. Every motorist must do their part to keep the roads safe to avoid accidents, and law enforcement officials have some tips for drivers.

“Always wear your seat belt every trip and every time,” said Wyoming Highway Patrol Sergeant Jason Roascio. “When it comes to adverse weather conditions such as rain, wet roads, or snow and ice, it is best to reduce your speed and increase your following distance while scanning the road ahead for hazards.”

Roascio said that when driving in rough snow weather, a driver should be careful when using brakes. He said pushing brakes too hard can make things worse and cause an accident.

“If you hit a patch of black ice, do not brake hard, and let off the accelerator,” Roascio said. “Do not make hard or rough adjustments and put nice inputs into the steering wheel to regain control. When dealing with icy roads, you do not want sudden movements or hard acceleration, which is how your vehicle can lose control. Always use smooth inputs, and I advise all motorists to never outdrive their capabilities.”

Doing small maintenance and inspections on vehicles is another way to prevent accidents on the road, especially in horrible weather conditions.

“The number one tip I recommend is to ensure your car is in proper working order,” said Big Horn County Sheriff Ken Blackburn. “Always ensure your tires are properly inflated, with proper fuel levels in the vehicle. In my experience, the extreme cold and the straight hot weather are very hard on vehicles, which we all know in Wyoming.”

Blackburn said no matter how good the weather is, always be prepared, because the weather can change unexpectedly. He said just because the weather is nice does not mean it will not change.

“I think too often people get comfortable with the good weather, and when bad weather hits they don’t allow enough time to get from point A to point B,” Blackburn said. “It’s the rushing during bad weather that usually causes accidents and slide-offs. People have recently been getting stuck on the county roads, particularly with these winds.”

Blackburn said people should plan ahead of time for food, shelter and heat whenever they travel on the road. He said it should be noted that Mother Nature has been kind in the last few winters and that people prepare for the most extremes.

“People not from around here should not assume that essential service will not be plowing them out of the road quickly,” Blackburn said. “My office recently received information about county residents stuck in their homes because the road was impassable for over a week and a half. This is not uncommon. My parents always taught me to prepare for the worst and hope for the best.”

To get current information on Wyoming road conditions, download and use the Wyoming 511 app, which also provides webcams for viewing conditions in many locations around the state.

For current weather conditions, go to https://forecast.weather.gov.