Transportation Experts Caution That Roadways Could Be The Deadliest In Years This Thanksgiving

It seems Old Man Winter has come a bit early this year to throw a few curves into many families’ Thanksgiving weekend travel plans.

As it is, parts of New York will be getting hammered in the meantime by a snowstorm that’s being measured in feet, rather than inches, causing the NFL to relocate Sunday’s Buffalo Bills football game to Detroit. Unfortunately, travelers headed to grandmother’s house by car, truck, or SUV may find the road headed over the river and through the falls to be perilously snowed or iced over.

According to a survey conducted by Cars.com, 80 percent of Thanksgiving travelers are planning to drive, rather than fly, to their destinations this year, due largely to the cost and inconvenience of air travel. The AAA says that means nearly 49 million people will be hitting the road between Wednesday, November 23 and Sunday, November 27. Unfortunately, the National Safety Council cautions that the added holiday traffic could cause the upcoming holiday weekend to be the deadliest since 2007, with an estimated 518 roadway casualties.

“We hear it all the time, but if a loved one tells you to ‘drive safe,’ even out of habit, please do,” says Mark Chung, executive vice president of roadway practice at NSC. “The National Safety Council cannot stress enough the importance of taking safety personally, especially on the roads during the holidays.”

Especially with cold temperatures and snowfall predicted for many parts of the country, staying safe on the road means dusting off one’s foul weather driving skills. This is especially important among those who live in relatively temperate areas, but are heading north or to higher elevations where the elements change the game considerably.

For starters, it’s always a good idea to have your ride inspected by a technician to ensure it will be able to survive an extended excursion into frosty territory. Be sure to pack a “winter survival kit” in the trunk in case of an emergency. At the least this should include blankets, a radio and flashlight with extra batteries, drinking water and cups, healthy snacks, toilet tissue, and a container of sand or cat litter to provide traction should a car get stuck on a slick road.

If inclement weather sets in while en route, turn on the car’s headlamps to both see and be seen. Slow down and leave extra room from the traffic ahead – a car’s brakes won’t grip as tenaciously as they would over dry pavement.

Beware of frozen patches, especially over bridges and overpasses that tend to freeze sooner than paved roads. Accelerate smoothly when climbing hills to avoid spinning the wheels and maintain your car’s momentum without stopping; reduce speed and drive as slowly downhill as possible.

Never cut in front of a large truck, since a fully loaded tractor/trailer can take the length of a football field (including end-zones) to come to a halt at highway speeds.

Likewise, take heed of snowplows you may encounter. It’s best to say behind a plow, if for no other reason, because that’s where the road will be the clearest. Experts say to maintain a safe distance – about 15 truck lengths – as plow drivers can frequently change lanes, make turns, or exit a highway. Do not pass or get between trucks plowing in a plow line, which is when two or more trucks are working the road side by side.

If the vehicle hits a slippery spot and the begins to skid, remain calm and steer in the direction you want to go, maintaining a light and steady foot on the accelerator. Slamming on the brakes is usually counter-productive when a vehicle is sliding sideways. If the stability control warning light flashes on the dashboard, which means the system is engaging to help counter wheel spin, interpret it as a signal to slow down.

Keep in mind that even if a car or truck is equipped with all-wheel-drive or four-wheel-drive, there’s no violating the laws of physics. Driving all four wheels might make a vehicle go faster on wet on snowy pavement, but even the beefiest 4×4 trucks can spin out of control on a patch of ice or through a slick curve if driven without regard to conditions.

Should the vehicle become stuck in the snow, stay calm and avoid spinning the tires – you’ll only be digging yourself into a deeper rut. Switch off the car’s traction control (it works against you when there’s zero traction for the system to leverage) and “rock” the vehicle gradually back and forth in its lowest gear to get it unstuck. This is where owning a car or crossover SUV with all-wheel drive, or especially a truck or truck-based SUV with four-wheel drive system with low range gearing engaged, can come in handy.

If all else fails, wedge floor mats or flattened cardboard boxes under the tires, or throw some cat litter under them for just enough grip to get going. If there’s nothing else handy, try using tree branches. If nothing works after several minutes of trying, call a tow truck to avoid causing damage to your car’s transmission and other components.

Over the river and through the woods, indeed.