Hampton Roads Blizzard Driving Advice

The first snowfall of 2018 will be arriving in a matter of hours. If previous years are anything to go by, it will bring chaos to the highways and interstates of Hampton Roads and multiple accidents. Here is some Hampton Roads blizzard driving advice.

The first snowfall of 2018 is expected to begin on Wednesday night and last into Thursday morning for most parts of Hampton Roads.

Roads will be treated but expect some slick conditions, particularly on smaller highways. The best advice we can offer drivers is staying at home.

A report on WAVY.com noted crews will focus on primary roads followed by some secondary roads. In Virginia Beach, highway crews have more than 2,500 tons of sand and ready-mixed salt ready to be put down when the snow starts to fall.

Drew Lankford with Virginia Beach Public Works said:

“We’ve had sub-freezing temperatures for several days, so even if it is raining the roads are going to get slick. If people don’t need to be out, don’t go out. If you do, try to give these trucks a lot of space, because they are slinging a lot of materials.”

While most of the region remains under a winter storm warning, a blizzard warning was issued for the cities of Southside Hampton Roads – Norfolk, Portsmouth, Virginia Beach and Chesapeake. Some weather models are predicting up to 8 inches of snow in Hampton Roads.

Follow Hampton Roads Blizzard Driving Advice

1 Make Sure Your Vehicle is Ready for Bad Weather

Make sure your gas tank is at least half full to avoid gas lines freezing up. Avoid the use of your parking brake in cold, rainy and snowy weather.

Make sure your car has windscreen fluid and coolant. Have an ice scraper, a blanket and a first aid kit. Have a bag of sand or cat litter or a shovel in case you get stuck in snow.

2 Don’t Use Cruise Control

If you are driving on any slippery surface whether snow, rain, or ice, you should avoid using cruise control because you will have less traction on the road surface.

3 Inflate Your Tires

Poorly inflated tires will impact the handling of your car. Check your tire pressure and inflate.

4 Drive Defensively

If you do have to go out in bad weather, use a light foot on the brakes and accelerator. Apply the gas slowly to regain traction and to avoid skidding. Slow down and remember it takes much longer to drive on icy and snowy roads.

5 Avoid Stopping on Hills

Avoid stopping your car or truck on a hill unless it’s necessary. It can be difficult to get moving again on an icy hill and your car may be out of control.

6 Brake Carefully

Sudden braking can be dangerous in icy or snowy weather. Make sure to keep your heel on the floor and use the ball of your foot to apply firm but steady pressure on the brake pedal.

7 Avoid Snow Plows

Snow plow operators are concentrating on putting salt or sand on the road. These vehicles often have blind spots. Make sure to keep your distance behind these vehicles.

See more blizzard driving tips on the AAA website. Every year when winter hits many drivers are involved in accidents. In 2016, the emergency services deal with almost 1,000 accidents in a 24-hour period in Virginia.

Take care on the roads during the blizzard and stay at home unless you really need to be out. Call Cooper Hurley Injury Lawyers at (757) 455-0077.