Staying safe in the new snow: Being cautious, patient key to doing well in Interior winter weather

News-Miner opinion: After the six inches of snow that fell on the Fairbanks area last week melted, it didn’t take long for more to show up. A record-breaking snow that started Tuesday caused outages, traffic snarls and canceled school today. Some dangers of a snowstorm of this magnitude are easy to recognize, such as difficult road conditions and downed power lines. But others aren’t as intuitive. Take care today — and in the days to come — to be cautious, be patient and keep yourself out of harm’s way.

The primary danger experienced by most Interior residents because of the storm is on the roads. Snow — especially wet, deep snow — can make steering and stopping far more difficult, especially for those who haven’t yet put on winter tires. Four-wheel drive is a great option if your vehicle has it, but whether or not it does, pack a snow shovel and tow strap in your vehicle — even with all wheels providing power, it’s entirely possible to get stuck and need assistance. Drive slowly, afford yourself extra time to get where you’re going and keep your headlights on at all times. In the snow, cars without lights on are sometimes close to invisible. Also, take care around intersections. Make sure you have room to stop and that cross traffic is stopped before proceeding, and be aware that in the event of power outages, intersections may turn into four-way stops.

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