The first storm of the winter is the most dangerous.  Roads will become treacherous. Snow can accumulate quickly and there will be oil buildup on all roadways making them slippery.  Please wait for the Town’s plow truck to go pass your house before driving. They will not only plow but will treat the road with sand and salt. Please drive cautiously and watch your speed, you want to get to where you need to go and not off the road. 

Before you leave the driveway or parking lot, take time to clear snow and ice off your car, including your windows, mirrors, lights, reflectors, hood, roof and trunk. Drive with your headlights on and be sure to keep them clean to improve visibility. Use caution when snow banks limit your view of oncoming traffic.

As you get on the road, remember that speed limits are meant for dry roads, not roads covered in snow and ice.

Among the many threats facing drivers during winter is the most dangerous of them all is hard-to-spot and potentially deadly black ice.  Black ice forms most often when it's raining and air is at or below 32 degrees Fahrenheit at the surface. The low ground temperature causes the precipitation to freeze upon contact creating ice.

Sleet and the refreezing of runoff from melting snow can also generate black ice. It's called black ice because it looks like the rest of the pavement on the road, but it is actually clear. The prime time for the development of this ice is between sunset and sunrise, when temperatures are typically the lowest. 

Due to the restrictions of a car's thermometer, the best way to know if roads are icy before heading out the door is to do the “toe test.”

The most common locations for black ice are shaded or tree-covered parts of driveways and roadways due to the lack of sunlight. Because of their ability to freeze quickly, bridges and overpasses are also prime locations.

While driving on black ice is similar in some regards to driving on snow, the biggest difference between the two is the amount of traction the vehicle retains. With snow, there is still some traction but on ice, there is no traction, and that's when it becomes very dangerous to drive.

Please be careful, stay home if you can. But, if you must go out, drive slow and see Bow.