Road rage in the Mat-Su Valley

The snow is falling, the wind is blowing, the temperature is dropping and the roads are getting worse. For the first month or so after the first snow, the number of accidents increase dramatically, especially among teens and other inexperienced drivers.

Statistics have proven that 16-year-olds have higher crash rates than drivers of any other age. This is all due to speeding, texting, distractions caused by passengers and intoxication. Add a thin sheet of ice to that equation and you’ve got a recipe for disaster.

“After hearing all the horror stories on winter driving, I’m extremely timid on the roads. I actually think I drive better on the ice than in good weather, because there’s more to worry about,” said Allison Bargelski, a sophomore at Colony High School.

Each year, it seems like each driver has to start from scratch again on learning how to drive in the snow. At the beginning of winter, there are cars off the road everywhere you turn, accidents happening left and right. But come spring, accidents happen just as often as in the summer.

For those of you who don’t have much experience driving in the winter weather, here are some tips:

• Be aware of black ice, it can sneak up on you.

• Brake gently to avoid skidding. If you do skid, do not slam on the breaks, gently accelerate in the direction of the skid, preferably in neutral.

• Don’t use cruise control on icy roads; it can cause your breaks to lock.

• Always, always, always wear your seat belt, and never drink or text and drive.

• Leave lots of room between your vehicle and the car in front of you to accommodate longer winter stopping distances.

It is always a good idea to pay attention to traffic reports, because they usually tell you whether or not the roads are safe to use. As for high schoolers, if the roads are so bad that administrators cancel school, they are still too bad to go to your friend’s house. Stay home and be safe rather than risk your life.

So far this season the roads have been pretty well taken care of, but then again, we still have four months to go. Buckle up and drive safely!

Molly Sullivan is a junior at Colony High School. This is her second year studying journalism.