COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- Local driving schools teach new drivers the safest ways to tackle the winter weather.
Whenever there is snow on the ground, it can be trickier for drivers out on the roadways. People may have noticed streets were icy, slippery, or snowy on Friday morning. For many Ohioans, it’s been a while since some have driven in the winter weather.
Even in those conditions, local driving instructors were out with students all day Friday, teaching them the safest ways to tackle the snow behind the wheel.
“We definitely are very cautious about the snow so I always tell them it’s safe because we will not drive if we don’t think it’s safe,” said Carla Fleece, the training manager for Driving Schools of Ohio in Westerville.
Fleece said many of her students were extra nervous in the inclement weather, but she saw it as a good learning opportunity.
“Always drive cautiously. Always lower the speed, take your time, always cover the brake when you come up on stop, give yourself plenty of distance between that stop and your car because you don’t want to slide into a stop,” said Fleece.
It was much of the same advice at Future Driving School in Columbus. Owner Mousa Alqaraen said he sees too many experienced drivers making mistakes in the winter weather.
“Don’t rush. Go early. Don’t try, you know, to go late and you’re going to be racing on the road or on the highway. You’re not going to hurt yourself only, you’re going to hurt other people too,” said Alqaraen.
Both driving instructors said in snowy weather, it’s best to be extra cautious. They said to go slower than the speed limit and go easy on the gas. It’s also important for people to leave plenty of room between their car and the car in front of them. On icy days, it’s best always to keep both hands on the wheel.
“Don’t try to play with or do any text messaging, change the radio, or play different music. Let’s forget it today when it’s icy,” said Alqaraen.
Both Fleece and Alqaraen also stressed the importance of cleaning off the car after snow. Whether someone is a new or experienced driver, it’s distracting to have snow flying into the windshield or blocking visibility, and it could even cause a crash.
