Safe Driving Tips for the Weekend

Commuters should be on the lookout for flooded streets and slick roadways as a Nor’easter bears down on Northern Virginia. A Nor’easter is bringing heavier rainfall and decreased visibility as commuters begin to head home.

Virginia State Police have fielded 244 calls in just four hours Friday morning, they said and were on the scene of 29 crashes at 4:30 p.m. . They are passing along these tips to drivers:

• Use your headlights: State law requires headlights on when windshield wipers are activated. Plus, the headlights make you more visible to other drivers when visibility is limited in a heavy downpour.
• Slow your speed to safely navigate inclement road and weather conditions.
• Turn Around. Don’t Drown: Never drive through standing water. What looks like a puddle can be deep and swift-moving water, so don’t risk it. Turn around and find another, safer route to your destination.
• Always buckle up.
• Never drive distracted.
• Dial 511 for Road Conditions. Reserve 911 and #77 for emergencies calls only.

From 12 a.m. through 4 p.m. Friday, Virginia State Police dispatchers across the state fielded 1,234 general calls for service. During that same time period, state troopers responded to 224 total traffic crashes and 151 disabled vehicles.

As more roads are beginning to flood and dark settles in, motorists are advised to stay alert for standing water and debris across the roadways, state police say. Debris includes fallen trees, limbs, and other debris possibly washed up by/left behind by receding or swift-moving floodwaters.

In Northern Virginia (Prince William/Loudoun/Arlington/Alexandria/Fairfax), state police have responded to 23 crashes and 38 disabled vehicles.

PHOTO of Fairfax County Police from Patch archive