Keep calm and slow down: How to navigate winter roads, according to Pocono first responders
Joe Totero tightened his grip on the steering wheel and shouted to the men behind him: "Hold on!" All six of the fire engine's tires began to slide over black ice.
The truck barreled into the intersection of Courtland and 447, where onlookers stared from their cars. Totero pumped the brakes, and somewhere close by, a fire alarm blared.
Read more: What 20 years of crash data tells us about driving in Monroe County
It was early morning still. A break in traffic left the intersection clear long enough for the crew to pass through unscathed. They slid to a halt moments later once the ice gave way to blacktop.
"We were almost at the building that had the fire alarm going off," Totero said 15 years later. "So we didn't look too much like fools."
He can laugh about it now — the panic, drama and sheer luck that saw him and the rest of the East Stroudsburg Fire Department through the intersection — but he's responded to enough crashes on icy backroads to know just how bad it could have been.
"I've seen everything. Vehicle versus vehicle. Vehicle versus truck-versus-tree-versus-telephone pole," Totero said. "If they're going fast enough on these roads, they're just gonna plow right in."
It's why he hasn't lost control a second time, no matter the weather he's called out in. It's why he and other first responders in the Poconos arrive to incidents about a minute slower in winter than they do in summer. Surviving each season means driving with deliberation.
"We tell our guys to slow down, be safe," said Cpl. Eric Rath with Pocono Township Police. "Police, fire, EMS: We're no good to anybody unless we get there safely."
That means getting to know your surroundings, he said. Pay attention to the spots in the road that hold water. When the temperature drops, that's likely where ice will form. Take your time around sharp turns where you can't see what's on the road ahead.
"I've been in pursuits where you're coming around a corner, and the sun didn't hit a certain part of the road," Rath said. "You slide a little bit on black ice. Your heart drops for a second when you feel it. It's a scary situation."
His best advice on dealing with black ice is to be conscious of it before you hit it. Expect to slide, Rath said, and don't hit the gas or slam on the brake. Steer in the direction the car is heading, and do your best to coast.
Don't panic, Totero added. Trying to force the steering wheel in the opposite direction is futile, and it puts the car at risk of overturning. Having this conversation with young and inexperienced drivers before they lose control on the road could save them down the line, Totero said.
"Especially teenagers. They're not paying attention to what they're doing —they think they're invincible," he said. "Then they find out that they're not."
Do your best to avoid spinning out over black ice entirely by planning ahead. Anthony Petroski, Public Information Officer with Pennsylvania State Police Troop N, recommended leaving home earlier to account for bad weather and to take your time on the road.
If your windshield wipers are on, your headlights need to be on, too, he said. It's the law in Pennsylvania, and it'll help ensure that you're seen by other drivers.
Lastly, Rath said: Remember the basics. Wear a seatbelt, don't go over the speed limit and put your phone away.
"There's no magical wand, no 'If you do this, you're safe,'" he said. "You've just got to pay more attention, be more vigilant."
He paused, and then said a final time: "And slow down."
Hannah Phillips is the public safety reporter at Pocono Record. Reach her at hphillips@gannett.com.
This article originally appeared on Pocono Record: First responders share driving tips for winter roads, black ice in PA
