Hit the brakes on summer driving

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Connie L. Bias
  • 92nd Air Refueling Wing Public Affairs
I really like winter, but even I've had enough. I'm ready for the sun to shine, to run outside, to roll my windows down and speed life up. And if this springtime tease is getting old for a snow lover like me, I can only imagine how it must be for those of you who started your summer countdown last October.

The fact is, though, that Spokane is still seeing those snow flurries, and this weekend's forecast predicts two to four more inches of tangible winter. And while your frustration may be growing, there is one place your winter angst should not show: on the road.

Winter driving is still in effect, and this weekend is a crucial time to slow down and drive defensively. Be aware of the snow, slush and ice on the ground, and don't take unnecessary risks on the road (i.e., speeding, or passing illegally or unsafely). If you have any driving trips planned, make sure your car is prepared for the drive and the weather. You can also check www.wsdot.wa.gov/traffic for area traffic conditions, or call 511 for traffic and weather information.

In short, please practice risk management while driving this weekend and stay safe on the road. I'd rather we laugh together in a few years about that stubborn winter of 2008 than mourn together Monday morning over a preventable incident.