Despite ice and snow melting from area roadways, Kewaunee County Sheriff Matt Joski says motorists should still be wary of dangerous traveling conditions. Daytime high temperatures are expected to be at or above freezing for six of the next seven days. That could leave some area roadways with standing water, which Joski says could present issues to motorists whether it stays wet or it freezes overnight.
Joski also warns the combination of warm air and cold snow could lead to foggy conditions. He advises motorists to leave additional distance between vehicles and to drive slower to adjust to the changing conditions of the area roads. You can read more about this subject from Sheriff Matt Joski online with this story.
I have been accused many times of being an eternal optimist, and I will plead guilty as charged. On that note, I am hopeful that we are on the verge of spring. I believe we have experienced about as much winter as any community should have to experience and are now due for a warmer weather reward for our tenacity and endurance. Although any warmer weather will be a welcome change it important to note that there are safety considerations which must accompany that change.
As cold gives way to warmth, fog will be a common occurrence in our daily lives, and bring with it the potential for hazardous driving conditions. Many of the same safety tips apply such as leaving additional distance between your vehicle and one in front of you. Due to the instant onset of limited visibility due to fog, what may seem reasonable can become following too closely in a very short distance. Just as you would not over drive your headlights in night driving, you should also reduce your speed when you observe that visibility has deteriorated due to fog. When approaching an intersection especially in rural areas, it may not be a bad idea to roll down your window as you may hear approaching traffic you may not otherwise see. A final tip in regards to driving in foggy conditions is to always make sure you have your headlamps lit. While most new vehicles are equipped with automatic activating headlamps at dusk, sometimes the fog is not enough to activate them and you may have to go old school and physically turn them on. (Just don’t forget to turn them off)
The other hazard that comes with the spring can be the rapid melting that I hope we experience soon. This can create conditions where there may be standing water on a road surface. If not detected, this can create the potential for hydroplaning and inability to control your vehicle. As with the issue of visibility, being aware of the changing conditions on the road surface and reducing your speed will reduce the risk of finding yourself in a very dangerous situation.
We have survived what will likely go down in the record books as one of the snowiest winters in history, and I look forward to discussing safety for activities such as walking and biking and not shoveling and slipping.
