As first appeared in NewsBreak
By Aron Solomon
With a strong winter storm forecast to hit Pittsburgh at the end of the week and into the weekend, it’s going to be advisable to plan ahead and stay off the roads.
Where driving is absolutely necessary, it’s important to take the following precautions:
Allow enough time
Get an early start and allow plenty of time to reach your destination.
Keep your gas tank full
It may be necessary to change routes or turn back during a bad storm.
Keep windshield and windows clear
Stop at a safe turnout to use a snow brush or scraper and use the car defroster to keep the windows free of fog.
Slow down
A highway speed of 65 miles per hour may be safe in dry weather, but it’s an invitation for trouble on snow and ice. Some of the roads in and out of Pittsburgh can be especially treacherous as a storm quickly develops, so speeds that are still under the limit might be very dangerous at the peak of a winter storm.
Be more observant
Visibility is often limited in winter by weather conditions, so slow down and watch for other vehicles.
When stalled, stay with your vehicle
Try to conserve fuel while maintaining warmth and be alert to any possible exhaust or monoxide problems.
Give snowplows room to work
Snowplows travel slowly and make wide turns, so stay far enough behind them and use caution if you need to pass.
As Pittsburgh injury lawyer Jason Matzus points out, “With the Steelers finishing out the regular season in Baltimore on Saturday, at least we won’t have game day traffic to worry about. Still, as someone who has seen the results of a lot of winter accidents in Pittsburgh, you should, if at all possible, stay off the roads.”
It’s also strongly recommended to keep a bundle of cold-weather gear in your car, such as extra food and water, warm clothing, a flashlight, a glass scraper, blankets, and medications. Many people who live in Pittsburgh and other cities with real winters keep more gear in their trunk that you would imagine. This is coming from someone who currently has multiple sets of extra winter clothing, blankets, water, and snacks in his trunk.
Speaking of the Steelers, the weather in Baltimore on Saturday is going to be wet, but with rain rather than snow. With the Steelers stil alive, with a 30% chance of making the post-season, it’s going to be a fan-tastic Saturday to stay in, stay warm, and stay safe, Pittsburgh!
About Aron Solomon
A Pulitzer Prize-nominated writer, Aron Solomon, JD, is the Chief Legal Analyst for Esquire Digital and the Editor-in-Chief for Today’s Esquire. He has taught entrepreneurship at McGill University and the University of Pennsylvania, and was elected to Fastcase 50, recognizing the top 50 legal innovators in the world. Aron has been featured in Forbes, CBS News, CNBC, USA Today, ESPN, TechCrunch, The Hill, BuzzFeed, Fortune, Venture Beat, The Independent, Fortune China, Yahoo!, ABA Journal, Law.com, The Boston Globe, YouTube, NewsBreak, and many other leading publications.
