Two Tennesseans Die In A Winter Weather Head-On Collision
Winter Weather Collision
Two people killed in a head-on collision in Greeneville Tennessee. According to the Greeneville-Times a pickup driven by Andrew Pierce, 25, skidded on slush in a curve, crossed the centerline and crashed head-on into a small Toytoa Tercel driven by Bronson A. Ricker, 36. Both Ricker and his passenger Melody Gosnell, 28, were killed at the scene. At the tie of the accident it was snowing and approximately 2 inches of snow covered the roadway. There are several driving events that require intense concentration by the driver. A driver must always be on the defensive, thinking about what other drivers might do AND be prepared to respond with proper reactions. In addition, certain conditions, especially bad weather, trigger the need for special knowledge and skills.
Winter Driving: Several steps should be taken to lessen the effects of snow, sleet or ice. They include:
• Keep the windshield clear as possible: (a) keep a quality ice scraper in the car, (b) be sure the heater-defroster is in good condition, (c) have wiper blades in excellent condition, (d) have the outside mirrors clear and ice free.
• Be alert to poor traction: start slowly and never over-power and spin the wheels.
• Keep speed steady and slow (but not too slow). In deeper snow, you have to use the vehicle’s momentum to keep moving.
• Never over-brake and slide the wheels. DO NOT pump the brake pedal. Instead, APPLY steady pressure.
• Never over-steer and skid the front wheels. The front tires should have good treads.
• If your car starts to skid, always turn into the direction of the skid. In summary, continuous hard braking on snow and ice can result in the locking of the front brakes, causing a loss of steering. Always maintain a safe speed for these conditions to avoid excessive breaking.
The Basic Speed Rule:
The speed at which you drive determines how much time you have to act or react and how long it takes to stop. The higher the speed, the less time drivers have to spot hazards. Judge the speed of other traffic, and react to avoid the mistakes of other drivers. The Basic Speed Rule (BSR) is not a Tennessee law, but it is a general safety principle. The BSR does not set an exact speed limit; instead, it teaches that the speed you may drive is limited by current conditions. For example, if the posted speed limit is 65 m.p.h., and you are driving at night on a two-lane state highway and it’s raining or foggy, 65 m.p.h. is too fast for those conditions.
To obey the BSR, think about your speed in relation to other traffic (including pedestrians and bicycles), the surface and width of the road, hazards at intersections, weather, visibility and any other conditions that could affect safety.
If you or a loved one is injured or killed in a Nashville car accident during winter weather by a driver who is violating the Basic Speed Rule contact the experienced Nashville automobile accident attorney’s at Phillip Miller & Associates for a free consultation to determine your rights and remedies.
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