When the weather is frightful, many travelers may not find Moscow’s snow delightful. The snowfall creates dangers for commuters on icy roads, slippery sidewalks and frigid conditions that all pose significant risk to University of Idaho students and other Moscow residents.
It is important that Moscow residents mitigate these risks to avoid preventable wrecks and accidents.
Students need to allow extra time while the roads are covered with snow when driving or walking to class. Drive with caution on slick roads — an out-of-control car is a hazard for the driver as well as anyone else on the road.
Pedestrians need to be respectful of drivers and allow additional stopping distance for cars while crossing streets.
After all, a collision between a skidding car and a pedestrian will almost certainly result in injury to the pedestrian.
Drivers also need to allot five minutes each morning to clear car windows of snow and ice before driving. Unclear windows obscure a driver’s vision of the road, leading to accidents that no one can afford — especially a college student strapped for cash.
Windows that are obscured with snow can also get a driver pulled over by police and ticketed.
Additional time will also allow for student drivers to navigate the parking nightmares on campus.
Not to mention that the process of snow plowing can limit the amount of available spots in parking lots. Worse, some drivers believe snow-covered lines in the parking lot allow for a parking free-for-all and fill spaces inefficiently — further decreasing the spaces.
It’s winter, so all clothes should be weather appropriate. Even if students only expect a short journey, the warmly dressed can be left out in the cold after an unplanned car breakdown or heater glitch. Give the boot to shoes without traction — a fall that results in a twisted ankle can make daily treks across campus difficult.
Preparing for the snow should be a given, but according to the Federal Highway Administration, 23 percent of car accidents from 2002-2012 can be attributed to weather-related driving conditions. Preventing yourself from becoming part of that statistic should be a priority for everyone during treacherous weather.
— AE