One of NASCAR’s legendary drivers, Dale Earnhardt Jr., can take a turn around the racetrack that made him famous at 200 miles per hour.
He cannot, however, drive well in the snow.
He probably can’t be blamed for not having his “snow wheels” under him, since snow and ice on the roads isn’t exactly a familiar situation for lifelong residents of the southern United States. Earnhardt Jr. is a resident of North Carolina, which has been hit with an unusual amount of winter weather this season.
The racing legend made light of his predicament on Twitter, joking about it to his fans. He ran into a pine tree shortly after helping another driver who had slid off the road and into a slight ditch get back on his or her route again.
For a lot of people, just knowing that someone like Earnhardt Jr. can clip a tree while driving in the ice and snow is enough to make them feel better about their own bad-weather accidents. It’s proof that a car accident can happen to anybody.
You can, however, reduce your chances of being in an accident in the winter by following some basic safety guidelines:
- Make sure that your tires have a decent tread. If you live in an area with a lot of snow, consider investing in snow tires that are made for bad weather conditions.
- Always give yourself extra time to get where you are going when the roads are covered in ice or snow. You need to drive slower and put more distance between your car and other vehicles if you want to be safe.
- Try to avoid hard stops. Brake slowly and carefully. If the road is particularly snow-covered, avoid full stops whenever possible so that you don’t spin out when you press the gas pedal again.
- If possible, stay home. If you know that bad weather is coming, do what folks have done for decades: stock up on essential items and non-perishable food and stay inside until the roads are clear.
If, despite your best precautions, you end up in a motor vehicle collision due to foul weather and another driver’s negligence, it’s wise to consider your legal options for damage recovery before you talk to an insurance adjuster.
Source: www.kfvs12.com, “Dale Earnhardt Jr. helps car stuck in the snow, later hits a tree,” Ed Payne, Jan. 17, 2018