Common sense key to avoiding a crash

  • Shelly Webb
  • January 2, 2011
  • 288
                        
According to research the majority of accidents occur at dusk and winter conditions can be a major factor. The cold temperatures and moisture on the roadways cause ice formation making roads dangerous and slippery. Although highway workers try to maintain the roads with plowing and salting, winter conditions still make for risky travel. Capt. Dale Renker of the local Holmes County Sheriff’s Road Division has seen many accidents in his career and is convinced that using a little more common sense when driving can make a difference even in the winter. “Drivers need to really slow down and pay attention to what is going on around them,” Renker advises. “Also keep your attention on driving and don’t be multitasking with other items in the car (such as adjusting the radio, having phone conversations and/or attempting to do texting, surfing the web, reading emails, books or papers) while trying to operate a vehicle.” Renker says that many times people tend to be in a hurry locally and fail to pay attention to road conditions and others on the roadways. “People tend to be in a hurry to go everywhere and therefore are driving too fast in Holmes County,” he said. “The drivers need to slow down for the conditions, in Holmes County, because of our rolling hill terrain. With the type of terrain we have, you don’t know what might be over the crest of the hill. There may be a dog, pony cart, a deer or farm animal on the road, a child crossing the road, a piece of farm equipment being moved, a tree that’s fallen on the road or maybe nothing. If you slow down a little, you may have enough time to avoid an accident, but you need to be paying complete attention to your driving.” Renker said that slowing down even ten miles can hour can make a big difference in an accident. “If you are driving 55 MPH you are covering 80.67 feet per second, at 45 MPH you are covering 66 feet per second,” he explained. “By traveling 10 MPH slower your velocity is 14.67 feet slower, therefore giving you time you need to better react to something on the roadway.” Slowing down is especially helpful in the winter months because many vehicles are moving at a slower rate of speed. If you are involved in a vehicle crash there are things you can do that may make the results of the crash less damaging. Renker said reducing speed is the number one way to lessen the damage. Wearing your safety seat belt is vitally important as well. “You need to be wearing your safety seat belts, as well as all the occupants in the vehicle that you are driving,” Renker said. “People and objects lying inside a crashing vehicle are violently thrown about inside the vehicle, when the vehicle suddenly stops and/or changes directions. Speed should be adjusted for the road and weather conditions too.” One good piece of news, Renker says that locally the rate of accidents among teenage drivers hasn’t shown big increases. The rate of young drivers involved in accidents has remained the same over the years. “Parents can only caution and try to give their children advise on their driving habits,” Renker added. “There again the message should be leave early, slow down, take your time, and pay attention to driving. After all, driving is a multitasking duty in its self, without having other distraction in the vehicle.” Locally the accident rate in Holmes County is about average compared to nationwide statistics. From January through August of 2009 there were 444 accidents reported and that same time frame of 2010 showed 418 accidents, a slight decrease than in the past year. January can be a snowy and icy month so make sure you’re prepared for the road conditions or consider staying home. Also make sure your vehicle is equipped with an extra flashlight, flare, blanket, first-aid kit and other items you may need on a cold, snowy night.


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