DALE CITY, Va. — Even as schools close and transportation leaders ask people to stay off the roads, police and other experts have advice for drivers who do have to be out when it’s snowing and a warning for people who think four-wheel drive means that they do not have to worry.
Virginia State Police Sgt. R.A. Newby explains that while four-wheel drive may help drivers get out of a snowy or icy spot, the feature will not help drivers stop to avoid a crash.
“We have a lot of young drivers, they think they can handle things — and one of the problems is, and one of the biggest misconceptions is, that a four-wheel drive vehicle is a vehicle that can drive the normal road speed in inclement weather, and you just can’t do that,” he says.
He says that if you must be out on icy or snowy roads, you should leave at least twice as much space as usual between your car and the car ahead of you.
“Your stopping distance increases in inclement weather,” he says, which means you cannot drive the same way as on a clear, dry day.
The Virginia Department of Transportation, Maryland’s State Highway Administration and the District Department of Transportation are among those warning that conditions could be difficult to handle Thursday, and potentially into Friday or Saturday in some spots.
Since the storm began with rain, pre-treating the roads would not have been effective because the rain would have washed much of the salt away.
The SHA says drivers who do have to be on the road should leave plenty of room behind plow trains, to slow down in all situations and to leave plenty of extra time.
DDOT also reminds all drivers to clear any snow off their vehicles before driving and to clear off sidewalks for people getting out of their cars of homes or getting off the bus or train.
VDOT says melting and refreezing could lead to dangerous black ice in at least some spots through the weekend.
The Loudoun County Sheriff’s Office reminds drivers to have snacks, water, blankets and a flashlight in their cars in case of a breakdown. The office also suggests having a bag of sand or salt in the car along with a shovel, ice scraper, jumper cables and flares.
