With the first snowfall of the season expected tonight, Lieutenant Bob Burke, Commander of the Pendleton Post, would like to remind the motoring public of a few safety tips for driving during inclement weather.

Drive according to road conditions:

• Allow extra time to get to your destination.
• Clear all windows of ice and snow and remove snow from hood, roof and headlights and tail lights.
• Beware of bridges, underpasses, overpasses and intersections where ice tends to form first.
• Don’t use cruise control on slick roads.
• Avoid abrupt stops and starts, slow down gradually and keep wheels turning to avoid losing traction.
• Use headlights even during daylight hours 
• Increase the following distance between you and the vehicle in front of you.
• Decrease your speed according to the road conditions
• Make sure you have a charged cell phone in your vehicle AND NEVER TEXT WHILE DRIVING.
• MOVE OVER AND/OR SLOW DOWN FOR EMERGENCY VEHICLES.
• ROAD CONDITIONS: visit INDOT’s website www.TrafficWise.IN.gov or dial 800-261-ROAD (7623).

Lieutenant Burke reminds us that “We continually see crashes caused by speed too fast for the existing slick road conditions. Regardless what the posted speed limit is on the road you are traveling, you can be cited for going too fast for existing road conditions.  Please slow down, be patient and plan your trip according to weather and traffic conditions.  Remember, slick roads don’t cause crashes-it’s your driving behavior on those roads that cause the crash.”