CAJON PASS, CA. (Pain In The Pass) >> Near or at-freezing temperatures combined with the moisture left over from today winter storm can and will produce black ice on the roadways tonight and Sunday morning. California Highway Patrol and Caltrans could do escorts to make sure drivers slow down on Interstate 15. The whole Highway 138 will be a prime spot for black ice.
Caltrans crews have been laying de-icing material on the pavement to keep Interstate 15 freeway open and to keep the ice buildup down.
Meanwhile, the Southern California Weather Force warned drivers about black ice on roadways that could add to the already difficult conditions. Drivers should slow down in these conditions, especially on roadways where moisture gathers, bridges and overpasses, and untreated roads, the California Highway Patrol advised.
“Tips for Driving in the or Ice Snow”
- Stay home. Only go out if necessary. Even if you can drive well in bad weather, it’s better to avoid taking unnecessary risks by venturing out.
- Drive slowly. Always adjust your speed down to account for lower traction when driving on snow or ice.
- Accelerate and decelerate slowly. Apply the gas slowly to regain traction and avoid skids. Don’t try to get moving in a hurry and take time to slow down for a stoplight. Remember: It takes longer to slow down on icy roads.
- Increase your following distance to five to six or more seconds. This increased margin of safety will provide the longer distance needed if you have to stop.
- Know your brakes. Whether you have antilock brakes or not, keep the heel of your foot on the floor and use the ball of your foot to apply firm, steady pressure on the brake pedal.
- Don’t stop if you can avoid it. There’s a big difference in the amount of inertia it takes to start moving from a full stop versus how much it takes to get moving while still rolling. If you can slow down enough to keep rolling until a traffic light changes, do it.
- Don’t power up hills. Applying extra gas on snow-covered roads will just make your wheels spin. Try to get a little inertia going before you reach the hill and let that inertia carry you to the top. As you reach the crest of the hill, reduce your speed and proceed downhill slowly.
- Don’t stop going up a hill. There’s nothing worse than trying to get moving up a hill on an icy road. Get some inertia going on a flat roadway before you take on the hill.
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