Community Corner
Monday Weather and Commute: What to Expect on the Roads and Rails
The VRE is taking precautions to get commuters to work safely, but here's how to get to work safely if you're driving.
The storm warning for the region is set to end Monday morning, but there's still plenty of lousy weather to go for Northern Virginia and Washington, DC.
The hourly forecast for Northern Virginia calls for rain all day Monday and overnight into early Tuesday morning.
Temperatures during Monday morning's rush hour are forecast to be right around freezing, and keep in mind that long before the warnings about snow and rain falling, plenty of leaves had already fallen from trees, which can add to the slick conditions.
If you rely on the Virginia Railway Express for a ride to work, the commuter service announced at 8 p.m. that it is all systems go for the morning commute.
"We have crews out working right now and into the morning treating and clearing all station facilities including platforms and parking lots. That said, please allow extra time for your commute ... and take it slow, whether you are driving or walking. Use handrails at the stations and on the trains whenever possible," according to an email sent to VRE customers Monday evening.
"It is also a good idea to dress warmly just in case trains get delayed. The safety of our passengers is of utmost importance and we are working to minimize any hazardous conditions in our system."
Driving to rails or all the way to work? Here are tips on how to drive safely on slick roads:
Leave room. It can take a driver twice as long (and twice as much space) to stop a vehicle when driving in snow versus driving on dry pavement. You should leave twice as much room as you normally would between you and other vehicles on the road.
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Slow down. Driving too quickly for the conditions is the biggest cause of snow crashes, according to Edmunds.com.
Don’t slam on your brakes. If you’re sliding on a patch of ice, hitting the brakes harder won’t stop you. Learn more about how to safely brake in snow and how to exit a skid here.
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Or, don’t drive. If you can avoid driving in when roads are covered in snow or ice, that’s probably your safest bet. Walk when it is safe to do so.
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