A freezing rain advisory is in effect for Franklin, Fairfield, Madison and counties to the south, while Delaware, Licking, Union and counties to the north face a winter weather advisory. Drivers are urged to use caution across the area. Adding to the chaos, more than 9,000 people are without power in southwestern Franklin County and around 100 are without power in Madison County. The outage is affecting stop lights in some areas and traffic in such places as Rome-Hilliard Road at the I-70 interchange. Police are advising motorists to treat intersections with non-working traffic lights as four-way stop intersections.
Traffic Light Out? Treat Intersection As Four-Way Stop
Many drivers cringe when approaching a four-way stop only to be cutoff when its clearly my turn, or worse, allowed to go when it is obviously not their turn. Here are some guidelines:- Whichever car stops first should go first. If yours is the second car to arrive, you should be the second to go (and so on.)
- If you stop at the same time as another car, left-turning cars should yield to cars going straight.
- If you stop at the same time as another car, left-turning cars should yield to right-turning cars, allowing the intersection to clear quickly.
- You should try to make eye contact with the drivers of other vehicles at the intersection to better judge their intentions and avoid accidents.
Tips For Driving In Bad Weather
Driving with too much confidence and speeding on snowy, icy roads rank among the most common causes of auto accidents in winter conditions. Here are some tips to help you prevent accidents if you have to head outside.- Don't slam on your brakes
- Don't use cruise control
- Avoid any sudden movement with your vehicle
- Make sure that you have clear visibility from your windshield
