MP Police chief stresses safe, smart driving this winter

BY BRYCE KELLY

Mt. Pleasant News

New and experienced drivers alike are not immune to driving mishaps in the winter. And regardless of how big or small a vehicle is, drivers of all kinds are urged to think safety before convenience when winter weather is afoot.

?The first few snows of the season always catch people off guard,? says Mt. Pleasant Police Chief Ron Archer, who says vehicle operators should get in the habit of slow and steady driving without the distractions of cell phones in bad weather conditions. ?Driving at the appropriate speed for road conditions and allowing yourself extra time to stop is also important.?

A common myth among many during winter, says Archer, is that four-wheel drive vehicles provide guaranteed safety from fender-benders, sliding and so on. However, Archer insists that thinking isn?t necessarily true.

?Four-wheel drive does help you traverse through snow and harsher road conditions, but it doesn?t increase your stopping ability. Especially on a highway, four-wheel drive doesn?t help keep you from sliding off the road,? he says.

Archer also insists that winter driving can be a great time to teach young drivers how to operate a vehicle safely in adverse weather conditions, but insists it?s how you go about it that?s important.

First, Archer says parents should ride with their young drivers several times to check that the teen is comfortable behind the wheel before turning them out on the open road alone.

?I always suggest to parents to take young drivers out to an empty parking lot or an open area to practice before letting them drive on an actual street or highway. I suggest this so kids can understand how snow and ice effects their driving,? says Archer. ?Don?t just send your kids out into bad road conditions if they haven?t had the experience with a seasoned driver.?

In addition, Archer stresses good communication between parents and their young drivers.

?With my own kids, I always ask them where they are going so I know about how long it would take them to get there. Then, I have them call or text me when they arrive so I know they made it safely,? Archer says. ?That way, if they went off into the ditch or got hurt, at least someone knows the route they were taking.?

As with every winter, Archer says some accidents, even with the most cautious of drivers, are unavoidable. And it?s for this reason that Archer says his staff is ready to assist when they can.

?We always have officers and emergency personnel on call that are able to assist drivers when accidents occur,? Archer says. ?But it?s always a good idea to plan ahead for winter weather and stay off the roads as much as possible when conditions are bad.?