Happy New Years from the PRTPO

 Happy New Year from the Palouse Regional Transportation Planning Organization to you! We hope you have enjoyed the past year with us and have been driving safely the entire time. We thought it would be a good idea to share a few more tips before the year slips on by. 

Avoid Drinking and Drinking

We all know New Year's Eve is one of the most common times of the year to find drunk drivers on the road but we wanted to remind you of the staggering statistics. Did you know every day almost 30 people die in drunk driving accidents? The one person every 50 minutes. 10,000 lives every year. At a 0.02 BAC users can experience a decline in visual functions (rapid tracking of a moving target), a decline in the ability to perform two tasks at the same time (divided attention). At 0.05 BAC users experience reduced coordination, reduced ability to track moving objects, difficulty steering, reduced response to emergency driving situations. 0.08 BAC is the legal limit in all 50 states. 

Ensure Your Safety

You can never predict what the other drivers on the road's actions are going to be, thus driving defensively is always the best option. This ensures that you are looking out for yourself, and if everyone does this the roads should be safe. Some methods of driving defensively include keeping your distance. On New Year's Eve, we recommend keeping extra distance between cars to stay cautious.If you are being driven by someone always make sure they are sober. Don't assume other drivers are going to do the correct action, always look out for yourself. Cut out distractions when driving. Distracted driving can lead to you not keeping up with your defensive driving techniques and lead to a crash.

Other Options

Finding yourself out for New Years' and needing a ride home but being drink is a problem, but not a problem without a good solution! We wanted to provide all you answer to the question of how do I get home if I got drunk somewhere. There are always ride-sharing apps/services in your area to look into! Check into your community to see what they offer. Calling someone for a ride is always an option. Never be embarrassed to admit you are responsible enough to not drive drunk. If you know you're going to be getting drunk you can always plan ahead and get a ride, or have someone be the designated sober driver. Drinking and driving should never be the option.

Happy New Year, stay safe, and to another year of safe driving!

Christmas Driver Safety

Merry Christmas from the Palouse Regional Transportation Planning Organization to your families! We hope this 2020 holiday season is treating you all well. We wanted to share some Christmas Holiday Driving tips with some of you folks in the spirit of giving! 

Give yourself a little bit of extra time

Whether you're headed out for last-minute Christmas shopping or just home from work always make sure to give yourself a little bit of extra time. The roads are always prone to being slippery and getting home an extra 2 minutes early isn't worth the risk. You will also feel more relaxed knowing you have extra time just in case. When drivers are relaxed they're much less likely to make anxious mistakes that may lead up to a crash. 

Use extra care when watching other vehicles

Defensive driving is always the go-to option throughout the year, but especially during the holiday season. During the holiday season, there is always an increase in the number of drivers under the influence found on the road, unfortunately. This is why paying extra attention and giving other drivers even more room is extra important around the holiday season. If you suspect someone of drunk driving please report them to the local authorities as they are a danger for everyone and themselves.

Avoid Distractions when Driving

Driving while distracted is incredibly dangerous but easy to forget about. At a speed of 55 mph sending a text means you miss an entire football field worth of length on the road. That puts you and others at serious danger. There are three main types of distractions when driving. 

• Visual: taking your eyes off the road
• Manual: taking your hands off the wheel
• Cognitive: taking your mind off driving

In 2018 alone, over 2,800 people were killed and an estimated 400,000 were injured in crashes involving a distracted driver. Young adults and teens account for the highest number of distracted drivers. Remember to stay safe this holiday by reducing the distractions in your own car, and if you see your driver being distracted say something. 

Holiday Weather Driving

We've all heard those horrid holiday weather stories. The "we got into an accident driving back from grandma" stories. Here are some tips to help you avoid those situations when driving this holiday season.

1. Look ahead at least 15 seconds in traffic to see where you’ll be and anticipate what you might need to do to manage that situation.
2. You should take the time to adjust your following distance and look for the safest position in traffic 
3. You should create a cushion of space around your vehicle, you can give yourself an “out” when an unsafe situation arises

While drivers can be an issue sometimes nature itself seems to be fighting you as well. Luckily we have also gathered some winter driving tips for the road as well!

1. When driving in poor conditions, accelerate and decelerate slowly
2. Apply the gas slowly to regain traction and avoid skids
3. Don't stop if you can avoid it
4. Don't power up hills
5. Don't stop going up hills
6. Check the weather along your route and when possible, delay your trip if bad weather is expected.
7. Before hitting the road, notify others and let them know your route, destination, and estimated time of arrival

Traveling During Covid-19

With summer in full swing, people are hitting the road and still traveling. How can you get out of the house and travel safe during Covid-19? The safest thing to do is to put travel plans on hold. However, for those people who are going to travel, experts agree that traveling by car is a safer option.

Plan your route

Ideally avoid hot spots where there are a lot of Covid-19 cases. Select areas where there is not a lot of local transmission. When considering your destination, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) suggests asking:

• Whether COVID-19 is spreading in your community or the area you’re visiting. If so, you may have a higher chance of becoming infected or infecting others.
• If you or a loved one who is returning home has an underlying condition that might increase the risk for complications from the disease.
• If you’ll be able to maintain a 6-foot distance between yourself and others during travel and at your destination.
• Whether the destination requires that visitors quarantine themselves for 14 days upon arrival.

There are other things to take into consideration also. Will a mask be required on your journey or at your destination? Are there local business closures you need to be aware of? If needed, is there suitable medical care available?

Pack a ‘toolkit’

Good hygiene on the road is much like at home but you’ll want to be extra vigilant when stopping at high-traffic destinations. The best ways to limit your exposure include using the following:

• Wear a mask
• Hand sanitizer
• Disinfecting wipes or paper towels
• Disposable gloves
• Sealable disposable plastic bags
• Tissues

When you’re indoors or unable to distance from people by 6 feet wear your mask. Bring your own snack and drinks but if you stop to buy them, use hand sanitizer before and after going into the store. Use disinfecting wipes as needed and gloves when pumping gas. Avoid paying with cash. Use the same hygiene rules as you would at home by washing hands frequently and avoid touching your face.

Call ahead for services

Many chain hotels are open but call ahead to be sure. Ask if they are following safety and disinfectant protocols. Limit the amount of people in your room by requesting no housekeeping services. Other places you’ll want to research include any tourist destinations you’re hoping to see and local restaurants. In many places restaurants are limited to take-out or drive-thru only, instead of dining in. Lots of smaller restaurants and businesses may be closed.

Locally, most restaurants are open for dine in but at limited capacity. Nearly all of them offer curb-side pickup now too.

Drive careful

Even though there may be less traffic on the road, there is still a chance of a vehicle accident especially if you drive distracted, drowsy, or you lack experience. Overall traffic fatalities are up during quarantine because of speeding and reckless driving.

Palouse Driver Safety urges you to obey speed limits and practice defensive driving by bucking up, designate a sober driver, avoid fatigue, and avoid distractions.

Summertime!! Bring It! I Wanna Get Outside & Drive!

Summer Driving- Bring it on!!!

It has been a long strange spring and summer is on the horizon. Warm weather brings people outdoors and onto the roadways for a wide range of activities. Cycling, a trip to the river, hiking, or camping at the many beautiful spots around the Palouse are but a few of the traffic challenges particular to this area and season.

Whether you are sharing the road in your car, on a bicycle, or pulling a boat, being alert and courteous are tantamount to safety. Below are some tips for sharing the road with cyclists:

Be visible: Cyclists or vehicles with trailers have unique blind spots
Pass carefully: Never on hills or curves, obey the double yellow lines even if they pull over.
Leave space: Provide ample room for passing between your vehicle and theirs. Sudden braking is dangerous for bikes, motorcycles, and vehicles with trailers.
Don’t speed past: When passing be aware that your vehicle’s turbulence may cause theirs to swerve or become unsteady. To prevent this, pass at a low speed.

Along with an increase in recreational traffic, you will see plenty of Farm Machinery moving throughout the Palouse. The farm machinery will be moving very slowly and often entering or exiting the roadways from access points you had no idea were on the map. Many safety tips crossover but for reasons unique to each vehicle and should be noted. Again, being alert and courteous will bring everyone home safe... and not to be too redundant, below are some specific tips for sharing the road with large machinery:

Be visible: Farm equipment is large and loud, make sure they know you are there.
Pass carefully: Never on hills or curves, obey the double yellow lines even if they pull over. Use caution when passing if they pull over as this may not indicate it is clear to pass at that moment.
Leave space: Stay about 50 feet back from farm equipment on the road. Leave ample room for passing between your car and theirs, large machines cannot just hit the brakes and stop on a dime. 
Watch for wide or unexpected turns: Large vehicles make wide turns often at unusual places. 
Yield to wide vehicles: Some farm equipment may be wider than the road. If you’re approaching an oncoming wide vehicle, stop and pull off the road, turn around, pick a different route, or back away so the machinery can safely pass.

Road Construction is also on the agenda for fair weather. Most work is done during lighter traffic times such as at night or on weekends. Roads are often compromised and caution should be used whether the work is in operation or not. Check locally for construction alerts and be prepared for extra time to get to your destination or an alternate route. Always obey traffic laws and exercise caution.  




Until the next Blog update- Have a great summer, and please drive safe!! :)

Follow us on your favorite Social Media, visit Palouse Driver Safety.

How Far Have We Come? - Looking Back On Distracted Driving Awareness Month (Way Back)

WHAT AN APRIL.

Within the span of a few days, traffic on the roads thinned to nearly empty roads, social interaction became strictly digital, and no one could deny that we were in a situation that was completely different that we could ever expect. 

However, amidst all the changes, some realities remained the same. 

The brutal scene of the Calene crash outside of Pullman, WA on Apr. 13, 2020.

Just yesterday, it was reported that Jack Hurley, 88, was killed at the scene in Lewiston after being struck by a vehicle. This followed a crash in Lewiston which had occurred only a few days before, as well as a two-car collision which took the life of Timothy Calene right outside of Pullman in the beginning of April. 

It is clear that one thing is true in this time: our safety is still a significant priority that we need to be continuing to pushing for ourselves and the ones around us. 

This is the purpose of Distracted Driving Awareness Month.

Erica Forney, at age 9, was tragically killed by a distraced driver in 2008.

SAFETY HAS ALWAYS BEEN FIRST.

Distracted Driving Awareness Month was first established by the U.S. Congress in 2010 with the help of Shelley Forney. 

Forney started advocating back in 2008 - in the rapid rise of cell phones - when her 9-year-old daughter was killed by a distracted driver on Thanksgiving of that year. Her efforts went on went on in 2010 to dedicate April as Distracted Driving Awareness Month in 2010.

Throughout the years following, the movement has grown nation-wide, and agencies across the country have banded together every April to help remind our communities that there is NO SUCH THING as a small distraction when it comes to driving and that our attention (or lack thereof) on the road can have serious consequences.

WHERE ARE WE NOW?

Preventing distracted driving is an uphill battle. The death rate from car collisions in Washington State consistently reached around 500 deaths yearly from 2015-2018. On a nation wide scale, over the last decade, there has been a significant increase distracted-driving-related crashes. The number of deaths related to distracted driving jumped from 3166 in 2017 to 4637 in 2018. 

However, thanks to the hard work of agencies throughout the country, as well as individuals using self-discipline and taking responsibility out on the roads, there is hope for the elimination of crashes and deaths from distracted driving.

TAKE THE PLEDGE.

If you haven't take the pledge to drive safe TODAY. Your responsibility on the road can make a massive impact on those around you. Don't take it lightly.

Stay safe out there everyone.

Don't Do It Alone! - Education At Home (for Students & Parents)

Within the span of a few days, homeschooling became the new norm.

WSU Assistant Professor Elizabeth Weybright gave some helpful insight from her research on leisure and boredom. She has been tracking boredom complaints on the Internet since stay-at-home orders were given. A WSU News article concludes with a quote from Weybright.

“The situation we are in is unprecedented,” Weybright said. “None of us were given any skills in dealing with a pandemic as individuals or as parents. We’re all struggling and acknowledging that is important.”

In this time, there is no denying that we are stuck and are unsure what to do. One of the particularly pressing issues is the rapid transition to education at home. Keep reading to learn what you can be doing, whether you're a student or a parent, to tackle the new reality of isolated, online schooling.

IF YOU ARE A STUDENT. . .

You're almost at the end of the school year! No doubt you have had a lot of changes in your schedules and are still trying to figure out how to use this time. The New York Times recently released an article detailing students' reactions to the new era of "social distancing." Many responses highlighted the difficulty to use the new time and even the occasional "existential contemplation."

Here are two things to remember while you are at home.

STAY SOCIAL.
Your peers are an important part of this time of your life, so it is important to be in touch with them when you can. Find any sort of opportunities you can to be in face-to-face interaction with each other and to do things together remotely. Continue to meet over video with your classmates for projects, assignments, etc. Also, it is very beneficial to those you are connected to when you send messages of positive reinforcement every now and then.

STAY APART (AND ENCOURAGE OTHERS TO DO THE SAME).
As strange as it sounds, the best thing you can do for your peers right now is to be away from them. Our priority is protecting those around us in any way we can, and we need to make sure we are all have this same goal and are doing whatever it takes to stay clean (for the thousandth time, thank you for washing your hands!) and away from those who are at high risk. Be sure to encourage others to adopt healthy habits if they haven't already. Remember - we are protecting each other by doing this!

IF YOU ARE A HOMESCHOOL PARENT. . .

[Personal preface. I was homeschooled for 12 straight years, and I saw my mom endure the constant work of teaching her kids of various ages, find new academic resources to help us learn in the best possible way, and coordinate with other homeschooling families in co-ops or online courses. Looking back, I realize how hard this was on her and how she did not do it perfectly, but I am extremely grateful for all the ways she helped me excel academically and creatively.]

If you're currently intimidated by the task or unsure of how to go about it, know that your kids are going to really appreciate and benefit from your direction as their new stay-at-home teacher. The responsibility is huge, but there are helping hands out there to give you a boost. Don't do this alone!Here are some useful, FREE resources you can use in your home to help your child's learning.

Khan Academy (All ages)
ActivEd Walkabouts (PreK - 2nd Grade)
Easy Peasy All-in-One Homeschool (K - 12th)

Ambleside Online (K - 12th)

Newsela (All Ages)

Virtual Field Trips and World Tours (TripSavvy)

Scholastic Learn at Home (PreK - 9th)

Smithsonian Learning Lab (All Ages)

Funbrain (PreK - 8th)

Storyline 

Big History Project 

Chrome Music Lab 

Club SciKidz 

GoNoodle (PreK - 1st)

Bedtime Math 

Code.org 

YouTube 

826 Digital (1st -12th)

Starfall (PreK - 3rd)

AS ALWAYS, HANG IN THERE!

One of the biggest struggles for surely all of us in this time is having the motivation to finish this school year strong, whether you're a student or a homeschool parent. Nevertheless, if all of us are working together to fulfill the responsibilities in front of us, the results will definitely be rewarding. As Weybright plainly stated, we are all struggling, and there is nothing wrong with acknowledging that to one another. Let's help each other in this time!

"Empty" Roads Doesn't Mean Safe Roads - Driving in COVID-19 Times

With the stay-at-home order extended, the Washington roads are changing by the day.

WSDOT has reported that traffic on major highways in the Seattle area has decreased by up to 77%, and experts only foresee that decrease to continue in the coming weeks.

Such changes to the roads may lead you to find yourself on open roads that are seemingly free of traffic, almost empty.

Be aware. These so-called “empty” roads are not necessarily safe roads.

This incident took place on Monday morning, April 13, just outside of Pullman. Reportedly, an SUV was heading into Pullman and ran a red light, thereby hitting the Hatchback which was turning left onto the highway. The driver of the Hatchback sustained life-threatening injuries.

Update on 4/17: Timothy Calene, the hatchback driver, has passed away from his injuries. Our deepest sympathis go out to the Calene family in this time.

It is easy to assume in this time that you will be the only one – or at least one of the only ones – on the road. Even so, it is still imperative to be 100% vigilant when driving, even when hazards or other drivers are not visible for long distances down the road. Let this be testament that lower activity on roads does not guarantee your safety.

DRIVERS AGAINST COVID-19

No doubt we still have errands to run and other necessities which will require us to drive out somewhere; this will in turn increase our risk of exposure to the virus. Here are some ways you can confront COVID-19 when going out.

WEAR A FACEMASK

A general recommendation for whenever you leave your home.

KEEP YOUR CAR CLEAN

Mainly areas of your car that are most touched (steering wheel, handles, etc.)

KEEP HANDWASHING GEAR IN YOUR CAR

 

For times you are unable to find a clean restroom.

DISTRACTED DRIVING AWARENESS MONTH CONTINUES!

The PDSC will continue to celebrate Distracted Driving Awareness Month by inviting the Palouse communities to participate in various contests, such as the Slogan, Poster, and Video contests! More info on these events is on the PDSC social media pages. We invite you to show us how you encourage others to drive safely!

We hope everyone is continuing to stay safe in this time. Drive safe and wash your hands!

The Fourth Palouse National Distracted Driving Awareness Month Celebration Kick-off !!

We hope you're all staying safe and following the necessary precautions and guidelines to help flatten the curve for our region during the outbreak!

Although we're all stuck at home, some of us still have to drive for essential work, necessary services and more. Driving for 5 seconds at 55 mph is the same as the driving length of a football field. Now imagine you were answering a text, which on average takes 5 seconds to send or read, and you were driving. That’s a full football field length with your eyes not on the road! This is only one of the distractions that drivers face every time they get behind the wheel.

Distracted driving is the act of operating a motor vehicle while engaging in an activity that has the potential to distract or divert the driver from the task of driving. This can be a visual, manual, or cognitive distraction. These include

·         Texting

·         Talking to your passenger(s)

·         Talking on your phone

·         Eating or drinking

·         Fiddling with the stereo

·         Changing your GPS

·         Anything that takes your attention away from driving

The consequences of distracted driving are severe with 2,871 people killed in 2018 by distracted driving and 400,000 injured that same year.

           With April being Distracted Driver Safety Awareness the month we're here to bring our classic events on a new online platform!

Missing our wrecked car display? Watch our social media post with full stories of those impacted by distracted driving.

Additionally, look forward to a new addition of YouTube videos we will be posting this month! Featuring educational and fun videos to teach you about driving safety!!

But wait, there's more.....

We will also be holding a virtual contest during the month of April! Stay in touch with our social media platforms to find further details (blogs, websites, and social media platforms!)


The Contest would offer a chance to win three different gift cards while staying at home and helping and caring for those who still have to drive! 

The three categories would be Slogans, Posters and everyone's favorite- videos!!

Stay tuned for further details! And, we would like to thank you to those who are working tirelessly to keep us safe during this pandemic!!

From the Palouse RTPO, and the Driver Safety Campaign, Please be safe and stay healthy!!

Rules for Teenage Drivers

Every parent's worst nightmare is having something terrible happen to their child. As they grow you, nurture, teach, offer guidance, love unconditionally, and most often look out for their safety. Children at any age are hazards to themselves, discovering the world through trial & error is life, but no one ever said it was perfectly safe either. One of the scariest things parents face is eventually relinquishing car keys to a teenager. Yes, we send them to Driver's Ed and tell them everything about operating a vehicle safely, but that doesn't mean it will always go as planned out on the road. Make sure that before you allow your bouncing baby to take those keys, you set clear boundaries and rules about being responsible behind the wheel. Check, double-check, and then check again that they are well aware of the seriousness of driving and that it is not a right but a privilege. The leading cause of childhood deaths is car accidents and many of which had a young inexperienced driver behind the wheel. Here are ten rules to lay down, and many of them are also laws to ensure everyone's safety on the roadways. 

1. WEAR YOUR SEAT BELT- It is common knowledge that seat belts save lives. Wearing one should be a no brainer and required for many states by law. Your teen driver should never ride without one.
2. NO ELECTRONIC DISTRACTIONS- Make it clear that no cell phones are to be used while they are behind the wheel. Tell your teen to situate the music and their cell phones before they even put the car in gear. Phones can be turned to silent or do not disturb mode to ensure they aren't a temptation to a teenage driver.
3. OBEY SPEED LIMITS- Speed limits are made and enforced for the safety of all those using the roadways. Following the posted limits will reduce their chances of causing an accident.
4. NEVER DRINK & DRIVE- Although teenagers aren't legally allowed to drink, that doesn't mean they don't. Make a plan with your child for situations they could encounter with drinking and educate them on making responsible choices. Above all, make sure they know they can call you for help.
5. DON'T DRIVE DROWSY- Sleepy driving is extremely hazardous and should be avoided at all costs. Make sure inexperienced drivers know to get proper rest and pull over if they need to when driving long distances. 
6. LIMIT THE NUMBER OF PASSENGERS- More people equals more distractions. Please, limit the number of passengers a young driver is allowed to have in the vehicle without direct supervision of an adult.
7. CHECK YOUR BLIND SPOTS EVERY TIME- Make sure your teenager knows to check blind spots before making any changes in direction or pulling away from an area.
8. AVOID BEING IN OTHER PEOPLE'S BLIND SPOTS- We all have spots we can't see perfectly around us as we drive, one way to avoid accidents is to make sure they know about and aren't in another person's blind spot. 
9. USE HEADLIGHTS- This is a "no-duh" statement for driving at night, but using them in the day time could be the difference of whether or not another driver saw your teen driver.
10. ALWAYS USE YOUR BLINKERS- ALWAYS use blinkers; doing so will allow others to know where they plan to go and adjust accordingly.
    

Driver safety is crucial for everyone's well-being, and these tips are great for all to follow. The best way to get your teen to drive safely is to be an example and not just tell them what to do, but to be doing it, too! Take a large part in your child's safety behind the wheel!

Valentine's Day, Heavier Traffic, & The Holiday Weekend

Love is in the air! Today, we celebrate the beautiful passions we share with all the people we love, especially our significant others. With the rush to have flowers and gifts delivered or bought, there is a ton of traffic and people out and about. To add to all the commotion going on in town, it is also a long weekend for most, making for more traffic on the highways as well. Please be cautious and courteous as you are behind the wheel today and this weekend as well! Keep in mind the tips listed below to keep you and your Valentine safe this holiday while dealing with the traffic increase.

1. Slow down a bit- Overcrowding on the road can lead to jittery and nervous drivers, take a breath, and also take your time.
2. Maintain safe following distance- Giving yourself a larger buffer zone between you and other drivers gives you a larger window of time to react.
3. Pay attention to the situation at hand- in heavier traffic; make sure to check your mirrors and blind spots often.
4. Use your blinker properly- Signaling to other drivers what your intentions are in advance will help reduce stress and accidents on the roadways.
5. Keep calm- Remember to keep an even keel when dealing with dense traffic, panicking will lead to errors. If needed, pull over for an actual break from the stress.
6. Brake smoothly- Avoid slamming on your brakes, keeping a more significant following distance will reduce the need to mash the brakes to avoid a collision.

Drive safe, and your Valentine will thank you!

Foggy Driving Tips

Washington state is home to some of the cloudiest weather in the country, and with clouds comes fog. Dense fog is hazardous to drive in for the apparent fact that it inhibits road and traffic visibility. Before driving in foggy conditions, please take a moment to determine if your travels are necessary. If you can afford to stay home when dense fog is out, do so. If not, remember these few tips:

1) Get rid of distractions
Before you leave, turn your phone and stereo off or on silent, and place your cell phone somewhere you won't be trying to reach for it.

2) Slow down
In bad weather, it is always a good idea to reduce your speed and increase the following distance between yourself and the vehicle in front of you. Lower visibility means less time to respond to situations around you. At slower speeds, we have more time to gain control and react appropriately.

3) Crack the window
Rolling the window down will enable you to hear traffic and emergency vehicles before you see them.

4) Use righthand reflectors and lines as a guide
Following the marking on the roadsides will ensure you know where your lane is.

5) Do NOT use cruise control
Cruise control will not give you the maximum amount of control over the vehicle, using it in low visibility is not recommended.

6) Turn on defroster and wipers
Using the windshield wipers and defroster will help reduce moisture in the vehicle and glare from the fog.

7) Drive with low beams & fog lights
High beams will only reflect off the fog and make visibility even less. Driving with low beams or fog lights will help oncoming traffic see you!

8) Increase following distance to 4 seconds
When situations arise, you will need the proper time to respond, giving yourself more space between vehicles will help.

9) Watch for animals and pedestrians
Many animals feel a bit more confident in being out in the cover of fog, making it extremely for you to see them and vice versa! As well, it will be hard to see people walking. Go slower and keep an eye out.

10) Properly use turning signals
        Use of turn signals is important in everyday driving, making sure others know what you plan to do before you do it. Using your tun signals properly in fog helps those around you see and prepare for what you are about to do.

If the fog is too thick, please pull over and wait for it to clear. Always make sure you are off the road and in a safe spot to park, so you don't get hit. Always be aware of your surroundings when driving and never risk it, your life is worth being here to experience, and so is everyone else's.

Palouse Winter Driving Workshop

Palouse Winter Driving Workshop... A Success!

Lately, there has been a significant concern coming from parents of WSU students about their child starting school, in an area where it snows, with little to no experience in winter driving. The Palouse Safe Driver's Campaign in conjunction with WSU Transportation Services offered a small workshop for students & community members needing a little more information on how to handle inclement weather and the roads. On February 4th, 2020, a little over 20 people met in room 150 of the Chinook Student Center; they were presented to by Hubert Hogaboam, the local driver's education instructor for the past 43 years, on how to be better winter drivers! We were happy with the outcome of the event and hope to offer more small workshops like this in the future! We want to thank Hubert for speaking, as well as Perfection Tire in Pullman, for providing display tires to use!  If you missed this one and want to catch the next one, please follow our social media to stay up to date!

Black Ice; Winter's Invisible Threat

Black ice's name is a bit of a misnomer, due to the fact, it is not black, but invisible. It is such a fine layer of ice, forming without bubbles that it becomes transparent and only appears to be black because of the pavement showing through from underneath. Black ice is a formidable winter foe, due to it being so hard to spot. The best thing we could do in any situation dealing with inclement road conditions is to remain calm. Please continue reading to learn more about black ice, how it & why it forms, a few ways to spot or be aware of it, and some tips for how to handle your vehicle during an encounter with this hidden threat. 

What Causes Black Ice & Where Is It

Ensuring that you are knowledgeable about the conditions in which black ice forms can help you be more proactive about driving safely through the road conditions and when to be aware of possible black ice. Black Ice is tricky because there are a few different reasons it forms.  This danger develops most often during the early morning and evening hours when the surface temperatures of the roads are at or below 32 degrees Fahrenheit. Black Ice is less likely during the day times as the sun warms the roadways, but this is not to say it cannot ever happen. Be careful when approaching overpasses, bridges, and sections of the road that have been shaded, as these areas are colder and can be hazardous spots for sliding on black ice. Snow-melt puddling up in the daylight warming and then refreezing as temperatures drop will also create conditions in which you should prepare for black ice. Watching out for these times and spots where it will form can keep you one step ahead of the rest.

How To Spot Black Ice

Spotting black ice is not impossible but extremely difficult, but still watching for it can't hurt. As stated in the above paragraph, the most important thing to realize is that preparedness, knowing where and when to look for areas in which it might be lurking, is the best option. With that put out there, we can tell you a few tricks to spot black ice before it gets you. When traveling at night, look for patches of roadway that look darker or duller than the rest of the road. During the day, look for glossy/wet looking surfaces in or around shaded roadways, hill bottoms, bridges, as well as under and on overpasses. If you are unsure, use the tires of the car in front of you to tell if things are wet or frozen, when a spray up of water is present there should be no ice. Car thermometers are fairly accurate these days, so this can also be an indicator of nasty road conditions. Being vigilant and paying attention will keep you safe.

How To Drive & Handle Sliding On Black Ice

One essential thing to remember is that no matter what kind of vehicle you have sliding on ice and careening off the road is always possible. Handling an encounter with black ice is very similar to driving in the snow or regular ice except for there is significantly less traction between your tires and the road. Four-wheel-drive or not, you can and will slide on black ice. The first tip I have for you is to REMAIN CALM. Panic can make bad situations worse; keep your head about you. If you suddenly start going a direction other than the intended path of travel and suspect black ice is the cause, take your foot off the accelerator, but DO NOT hit the brakes! Brakes will cause the wheels to lock up, and the sliding can become more intense and dangerous for yourself and those around you. Try to keep the wheels straight and pointed where you intend to go because black ice is not usually more than 20-foot patches, you will gain traction again. If things do get a bit hairy out there, remember only to do small corrective turns into the slide to try to regain control. Avoid over-correcting, as this will cause you to lose control of the vehicle.

Winter driving can be the scariest time to be a driver, but gaining knowledge on the matter and putting it into practice will be the easiest way to make your life a bit less stressful. Below are a few tips and warnings when it comes to driving in conditions prime for black ice.

Quick Tips & Warnings

-Keep at least a 5-second following distance between you and the cars in front of you. Braking takes twice as long on black ice.

-Never hit the brakes on ice to avoid skidding and try to hold the wheel steady.

-Be aware of the current weather conditions and be vigilant during the morning and evening temperature changes.

-Take cautions when using bridges or approaching overpasses (under or over), as well as tunnels.

-Avoid over-correcting your steering if you feel your car start to slide.

-If you have ABS brakes, acquaint yourself with how they work and what they feel like when engaged.

-Being prepared with snow tires fitted to your vehicle before the snows start the best way to battle losing control.

-Avoid sudden acceleration, braking, and change of directions, as this can cause slide outs.

-If the weather is truly awful, consider just staying home and avoiding the mess.

-4x4 vehicles, SUVs, vans, pickups, and large trucks all have a higher center of gravity and are prone to sliding and then rolling when they gain traction again, be extra careful when driving these vehicles.

-NEVER use cruise control because you need to be able to have full control of the car at all times in bad weather.

-ALWAYS DRIVE CAUTIOUSLY NO MATTER WHAT KIND OF CAR YOU OWN, NO TRACTION IS STILL NO TRACTION IN BOTH 4WD AND 2WD.

4 Wheel Drive Doesn't Mean 4 Wheel Stop

Winter Driving with 4-wheel Drive Vehicles

Just because you have 4-wheel drive don't get lulled into a false sense of security. 4-wheel drive vehicles are not better equipped to stop quickly on icy/snowy roads. This feature is solely for gaining better traction and control in terrible conditions, not for stopping on a dime. Having grown up in the Pacific Northwest, this was something ground into me. From an early age, I can remember my parents pointing out vehicles with 4-wheel drive flying passed us on the highway, and there was always the comment made of how they will end up in a ditch further down the road for driving like a royal... well you know what! A few times we did sadly see the same vehicle going at breakneck speeds earlier spun off or even flipped upside down on the roadside later. Understanding what 4-wheel drive does for you as a driver and how to use it is very important!

In this video, put out by O'Reilly Auto Parts, you can learn about the differences as well as the pros and cons of 4WD, AWD, and 2WD.

Remember, that 4-wheel or all-wheel vehicles do not make you invincible in the snow. You have an advantage when it come to initially gain traction but when your sliding across the snow or ice it won't make it so you stop better or faster! Be safe out there; go slow, increase following distances, don't brake hard and be considerate of everyone on the road.