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Winter months are months when you can experience heavy snowfall, blizzards, snowstorms etc. and they can prove dangerous if you have to go outdoors. Going to work itself on a daily basis you could be facing several hazards – whether you are in a vehicle, walking, or taking a train. Your life and safety will depend on observing the many road safety warning signs that are put up during the winter months. Things you can do yourself towards staying safe When you have been forewarned that you will be encountering bad weather on your way to work, first plan which route you will take. Avoid the more busy routes even if it will take you a bit longer to reach. See that your vehicle is prepared to drive through heavy snow and icy roads. Lastly when you are driving keep a reasonable distance between your car and the car being driven in front of you. All this will help. However you still have to look out for the warning signs which are put up and see that you comply. Winter Warning Signs Although you may look out for safety signs when driving throughout the year, special attention should be paid to them during winter, as they warn you about the road conditions and dangers of approaching hazards. Some of the important winter warning signs are as under: A sign warning about slippery roads Slippery roads can be dangerous at any time of the year. However, during the winter months this condition worsens due to ice and heavy rain. So when you see a slippery road sign drive your car carefully and keep a reasonable distance from the car in front of you. Sign warning that the road surface is icy This is an important sign as it tells you that the road surface is icy and therefore dangerous. It is known as black ice and is extremely dangerous because motorists cannot spot it easily and tend to drive over it. It is dangerous even for people who are out walking – they can slip, fall and injure themselves. If you have to drive on black ice use your brakes and accelerator gently. In case your vehicle skids, turn and ease the accelerator off. Avoid overtaking Overtaking when driving is a common feature – everyone wants to reach their destination in a hurry. However when you see a no overtaking winter warning sign, do not ignore it, especially if ‘ice’ or ‘snowdrift’ is written below the sign. As stated above though overtaking is a year-round practice, it becomes extremely risky when the roads are covered with snow. So exercise patience if the traffic in front of you is moving at a slow pace, do not get frustrated. According to the winter signs warning, drivers are going at a slower speed, so try not to overtake. Also be aware of the salting vehicles which will be moving slowly clearing the roads of accumulated snow. Road work activity Road work signs are put up wherever some type of construction is going on – whether it is on the road carriageway or building construction work. Road work is a continuous activity as there is always wear and tear throughout the year so this could lead to accidents. It is important to comply with this signal and adjust your driving speed if required. Maintaining good roads is a year-round activity and involves thousands of people. So driving slowly and cautiously when you see a road works warning signs is imperative. Many serious accidents and deaths have occurred due to collisions where road work is going on.
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