Goldendale Sentinel Editorial

Keep safety in mind while enjoying the Winter Wonderland

by Rachel Cavanaugh
News Editor

     The town of Klickitat had its first school delays due to icy streets this week, indicating winter may have at last arrived, despite a slow start.
     Even without snow on the ground, the signs have been mounting: ads in the papers for ski passes, Christmas carols escaping from storefronts, and a calendar on the wall that swears it is December 11, despite months of sunshine and blue skies.
     In the next few weeks, it will happen for sure. Big, white balls of frigid fluff will inevitably descend from the mountains and kids will take to the streets, snow sleds in hand, to fly down the hills and take each other out with snowballs.
     And it’s not just kids that get excited - grownups too will start filling their doorways with ski boots and other clunky outdoor toys, lined up Friday night for early-morning skiing, snowboarding snowmobiling, and snowshoeing.
     There is no doubt winter is a lot of fun.
     That said, it is important to remember that with it comes certain risks, including extreme cold temperatures, increased use of alcohol, and dangerous road conditions.
     The Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) defines certain state roads as those with a “roadway surface condition of ice or snow/slush.”
     Last year, there were only 6 accidents on those roads in September and 35 in October. By November, the number had jumped to 815 and in December it leapt to 3,101 collisions. The previous January saw 4,710.
     On those same roads, zero fatal collisions took place between March and October. Yet in November there were 3, there were 6 in December, and the January before had 14.
     There is no question winter poses greater threats to the road. WSDOT recommends the following precautions to decrease the risk of collision:

•      First, drive with your headlights on and drive for conditions. Don’t get overconfident with four-wheel drive. It won’t help you stop any faster.
•      Allow additional room between your vehicles and others.
•      Slow down when approaching intersections, off-ramps, bridges or shady spots, all of which have potential to develop black ice that makes driving hazardous.
•      Avoid abrupt actions while steering, braking or accelerating to lessen the chances of losing control of the vehicle.
•      Look farther ahead in traffic. Actions by other drivers will alert you to problems and give you extra time to react.
•      Remember that trucks take longer to stop. Don’t cut in front of them.
•      Avoid using cruise control or overdrive. You shouldn’t let your car make a bad decision for you.
•      Keep in mind stopping on snow and ice without skidding requires extra time and distance. If you have anti-lock brakes, press the pedal down firmly and hold it. If you don’t have anti-lock brakes, gently pump the pedal. Either way, give yourself plenty of room to stop.
•      It is also important to have good tires.

     According to WSDOT, to qualify as traction tires, they must have at least an eighth of an inch of tread and be labeled Mud and Snow, M+S, All Season, or have a mountain or snowflake symbol.
     Vehicles over 10,000 gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR), including some larger passenger trucks, SUVs, RVs and vehicles towing trailers, must carry chains Nov. 1 through Mar. 31 on certain state-owned roads.
     For up-to-date traffic information, call 511, check radio stations 530 AM or 1610 AM, or visit http://wsdot.wa.gov/traffic.
     In addition to increased risks on the road due to weather, holiday parties this time of year often lead to increased prevalence of drinking and driving. The combination can be fatal. Limit your alcohol intake and if you do drink, get a sober ride home.
     Finally, quit rushing. It’s like your mother always said, “you’ll be a lot later if you get in an accident.” (Not to mention a traffic ticket.)
     The holidays shouldn’t be a time for racing around anyway. Try your best to relax and enjoy the winter scenery, even if your relatives are waiting on you with turkey in the oven. They’ll appreciate you more for getting there in one piece than in time for the dinger to go off.
     This year, let’s dream not only of a “white” Christmas, but one that is safe for everybody too.