By Jennifer Theurer

This time of year can throw snow, freezing rain, and fog at drivers. Public Resource Officer Tod Hileman of the Kansas Highway Patrol says speed limits on roads are set with ideal weather conditions in mind.

 “Even delaying [a trip] one day or arriving a day early could mean the difference between you getting there safely or not,” he said.

If the weather changes while driving, Hileman says the best course of action is to slow down. Speed limits are set based on ideal road conditions, so if the road is wet or covered in snow those speeds are no longer safe.

After slowing down, Hileman says the next step should be to turn off cruise control.

“When it comes to trusting myself and my driving skills compared to a technology,” he said, “I still think it’s best that if you encounter slick [roads] and that includes heavy rain, because of hydroplaning, or snow that you take your cruise control off and manually take your vehicle over.”

Some drivers may think their four-wheel-drive vehicle gives them an advantage, but Hileman cautions drivers with a false sense of security.

“Ice is ice,” he said. “Every winter, I don’t know how many people we pull out of the ditch or work a crash on who we’re driving with four-wheel drive engaged.”