DID YOU KNOW???

A public service of the Franklin County Traffic Safety Board and this newspaper

SPEED NOT REASONABLE AND PRUDENT (TOO FAST FOR CONDITIONS)

With the approach of winter weather and its associated driving difficulties, every time we get hit by even a small amount of snow, the accident reports in the next day’s paper tell of vehicles going off the road because the driver lost control on snow or ice. Article 1180 of NYS Vehicle and Traffic Law states:

“NO PERSON SHALL DRIVE A VEHICLE AT A SPEED GREATER THAN IS REASONABLE AND PRUDENT UNDER THE CONDITIONS AND HAVING REGARD TO THE ACTUAL AND POTENTIAL HAZARDS THEN EXISTING.”

The translation of this article is simply that the posted speed limit is too fast by law for a great deal of conditions. This is the law you may be ticketed for if you loose control of your vehicle on snow and ice, even if you are going well under the posted speed limit. Violation of this law carries a $45-$150 fine and/or up to 15 days in jail for the first offense. It also carries three points plus a $50-$55 surcharge. Driving is not as mundane a task as we think it is. It takes some intelligence to recognize hazardous conditions and some experience to know just how slow one must travel to remain in control. It also requires total attention to the task of driving, not doing other things that take your mind off the driving, such as fiddling with controls, eating and drinking, primping, and even talking on a hands-free cell phone, which happens to be allowed in New York State. So, this winter, make a pact with yourself to never blame the weather conditions for your failure to drive under control. Take responsibility for your own driving. The driver who slows down to a speed that is “reasonable and prudent” rarely looses control. Most drivers think they are a better driver than average. Now prove it!

Know the law, pay attention, and slow down when conditions demand it!