News: Preparing for winter driving

By WKYC Reporter Dave Summers

CLEVELAND -- Salt shortages in local communities mean, slicker roads for many of us this year.

This week's storm caused a crash that killed a local teen as well as many fender benders. There are things you can do to avoid an accident this winter. There are even classes to teach you.

You might say Ken Stout's career is on thin ice. Stout and his team make a living teaching emergency services like police and fire how to drive when lives are on the line.

"Driving is a cycle motor skill -- the ability to handle a vehicle in a dynamic situation," Stout said. "If you're not practicing snow and you're not practicing skid avoidance and skid recovery it's just not there."

Drive Team also teaches winter driving. Stout says to get smart and understand you're driving under different conditions. "That first snow we kind of test our brakes a little bit. We test our steering. That's very helpful," Stout said.

It's important to understand what's going on under your car.

"When your front end is sliding like that, you want to come back and straighten your wheel so you feel your tire gain traction," Stout said. You should know the most slippery driving surface may not be what you think.

"Thirty one degrees can be the most dangerous. It's when water is starting to freeze or ice starting to melt that can be the most slick time," Stout said.Ken said if motorists would just slow down they may not need to know all the tactics he teaches.

Although, knowing how to steer out of an accident does take a certain chill out of winter driving. Car control clinics are starting this weekend. We have more information on drive-team at wkyc.com by clicking on "Teen Driving."