Snow Day Decisions for Schools and Parents
"School is Open" Does Not Mean it is Safe for Teens to Drive
Jan 27, 2009
Even the most jaded teen believes in the power of wishes when forecasters mention icy roads and dropping temperature, waiting for the magical words "snow day". Just because the district announces "school is open", that does not mean it is safe for teen drivers to get on the roads and get to school.
How Schools Decide when to Call a Snow Day
To most people, it seems obvious when to have a snow day. If the weather forecast predicts icy roads and below freezing temperatures, it seems logical that schools would declare a snow day immediately and teens could sleep in late the next morning. That is not the way it works.
Superintendents looks at the real conditions, not predicted conditions. Superintendents and transportation directors drive on the roads in the district and consider:
- the safety of students waiting for the bus and walking to school
- the safety of buses driving to and from school
- the conditions of parking lots and walk-ways
- the safety and supervision of students who will not be in school
The main priority for schools is student safety. If students can safely get to and from school, schools will be open. If it takes time to have the roads cleared, schools may have a delayed start.
Deciding if a Teenager Can Drive to School on Winter Roads
Most buses are able to handle difficult, icy roads, especially because city road crews are able to make main roads drivable. "Driveable for a bus" and "drivable for a teenager" are very different. Parents need to be mindful that driving in snow and ice takes experience, patience, and concentration. Before teens drive on ice, they need to be able to answer the following questions:
- How will you prepare the car to drive in bad conditions? (Drivers need to warm up the car and scrape all of the windows completely – not just enough to be able to see.)
- What does black ice look like? (It looks slightly shiny, but it looks like the road. It is hard to see.)
- What should you do if you start to slide on the ice? (Take foot off the gas pedal, tap breaks lightly.)
- What should you do if you are skidding (Turn into the skid.)
Parents should go over other procedures for their teenagers, including:
- what to do if the car gets stuck
- what to do if the teenager gets into an accident
- what do to if the car slides into a ditch
Some areas offer ice driving lessons. If these are available, parents should take advantage of them. Parents should not allow teens to drive to school on icy days unless they are sure that their teens can drive safely. Teens who can drive safely are teens who:
- can resist the thrill of doughnuts and other icy driving adventures
- have the patience to drive slowly and leave several car-lengths between themselves and the next driver
- are willing to keep the music and phone off
- understand which routes are safe, and which routes to avoid
- are able to recognize what ice looks like on roads.
Parents should take teens to practice driving on ice so they teen can stay calm in the stressful situation of sliding on icy roads. It is important that everyone learn how to drive in tricky conditions..
If schools are open on snowy or icy days, parents need to consider driving their teenagers or having them take the bus. If the roads will be dangerous on the way to or on the way from school, parents may need to declare their own "snow day" if they can't find alternate transportation for their teenagers.
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