Drivers need to be aware of conditions, rules of the road

The first automotive casualty of the season was a Subaru that failed to yield the right-of-way Monday morning at the corner of Highways 21 and 28. There were no injuries reported as a result of the accident, but the Subaru had to be towed away.

Odessa Town Marshal Mike Wren, in a follow-up interview, had these tips for area drivers to remember when weather conditions turn adverse.

1) Slow down. Even though the posted limit on First Ave. is 30 miles per hour, Wren says that is probably too fast for safety even under good driving conditions.

2) Look both ways, then look again. Remember “right, left, right” in order to be certain there are no vehicles or pedestrians approaching from either direction.

Remember the little things that are just common sense, such as

3) using your turn signals,

4) coming to a complete stop at stop signs and

5) turning on your lights.

Wren commented that people in Odessa seem to have become lax about coming to a full stop, using turn signals and looking both ways. He also noted that quite a few drivers continue to use cell phones both for conversation and texting while driving.

Another problem he noted is that when drivers park their cars close to corners, their vehicle may obscure the vision of another driver approaching the intersection.

Finally, when addressing bad-weather driving, Wren said, “I don’t care if you have six wheels on the ground, if you hit ice, you’re gonna slide.”