 INCIDENT: Winter weather
LOCATION: Illinois State Police District
9
DATE / TIME: Dec. 23, 7 a.m.-9 p.m.
ASSISTING AGENCIES: Illinois Department of Transportation
NARRATIVE: On Tuesday, central Illinois was hit with a wintry mix
of ice and snow. From 7 a.m. to 9 p.m., Illinois State Police
District 9 handled a total of 183 incidents, with 53 of them being
crashes. While several of the crashes involved injuries, none of
them were life-threatening.
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Capt. James Wolf, District 9 commander, would like to remind
everyone about five winter driving tips:
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Sometimes it is
easier to stay home than to put yourself at risk by driving in
bad weather. When bad weather is upon us, it may be safer to
stay at home than risk driving.
-
It is wise to use
reduced speeds in snowy, icy and wet conditions. Slow down when
approaching intersections, off-ramps and bridges. These are
candidates for icy conditions.
-
Remember not to
crowd the snowplows. The plows are large and need a lot of room
to maneuver. The snowplow driver's field of vision is
restricted. You can see them but they may not see you, so do not
travel beside a plow for an extended period of time.
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Use defensive
driving maneuvers. It takes more time and distance to stop in
adverse weather. When driving on snow and ice, you must ensure
that you provide an increased distance between your vehicle and
those in front of you. This will allow more time for you to stop
if the vehicle in front of you slows or stops.
-
Be prepared for
your trip. If you do choose to leave home, ensure all the snow
or ice is cleared off the lights and windows of your vehicle so
that you can see while driving. Please ensure you give yourself
extra time to travel to your destination. It is not worth
putting yourself or others at risk, just to be on time.
While adverse weather driving is difficult and could be
dangerous, if you adhere to these adverse weather driving tips, it
will increase the chances of you arriving at your destination
safely.
[Text from file received from Illinois
State Police District 9]
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