KOOTENAI COUNTY, Idaho — After the first winter weather hit this past week, many drivers had to navigate snowy roads for the first time in a while. A winter driving class in North Idaho is helping people become reacquainted with winter driving.
The classes are hosted by Idaho State Police and the Idaho Transportation Department. They address a growing need as more people move to the Northwest.
“We have an influx of people moving into the northwest, as everybody knows. People that haven’t been driving in the snow very, very much or at all,” said Daryl Rise from the Idaho Transportation Department. “We also have the newer drivers, the people that are just getting their driver’s license. That’s why we do these classes.”
The most important lesson for many students was simple: slow down.
“You know, slow down, back up. Take your time,” said Unity Vanderhoof, who attended the winter driving class.
“Just like shady corners or icy and, you know, just slow down,” said Chelsea Hagel, another participant.
Idaho State Police says driving too fast for conditions and following too closely are the top causes of accidents. Rise says drivers need to increase their following distance in winter.
“Following too closely following the people in front of them. The summertime is the three second rule. We’re going to bump that up to probably nine 10s in the wintertime,” Rise said.
Idaho State Police says busier roads like interstates and city streets get more attention from plows than rural roads. Drivers may need to take alternate routes in winter.
“We live up kind of in the mountains, so our roads don’t get plowed very much. And we just kind of. My parents wanted me to get, like, the education that about winter driving that I need,” Hagel said.
The two-hour class covered tire tread, not crowding snow plows and proper hand placement on the steering wheel.
Even experienced drivers learned something new. Vanderhoof has been driving for more than 40 years.
“I’ve been driving for over 40 years, but, one thing I took away was, the the 9 and 3. When I took driver’s ed, it was 10 and 2,” she said.
The best advice is to pay attention to what is happening around you.
“The mistakes that I see the drivers making would be, it would have to be distracted driving, driving, looking at their cell phones, changing their music,” Rise said.
More winter weather tips and information about future classes can be found by clicking here.
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