C.O. drivers skid into life-saving lessons

When you wake up and see snow-covered roads, do you get nervous? Or feel prepared? NewsChannel 21’s Samantha O’Connor spent Wednesday practicing her snow-driving skills with a professional.

“The most dangerous thing you’ve done today is drive here for this interview,” said Michael Johnston, a SkidCar instructor.

“It’s kind of scary — you know, slipping and sliding,” one driver said.

Snow and ice can be a nerve-wracking combination when it comes to driving.

“You panic, and I think you overreact sometimes,” another driver said.

These thoughts we are all familiar with.

“Yeah, I get really nervous — and I just had a baby, so I have to be extra-cautious,” one driver said.

But some of us are not new to snow.

“Forty years experience in Central Oregon,” one driver said.

The veterans can pick you out.

“You can tell the newbies,” one veteran driver said.

“I’ve been here for a year. I’m from the big island in Hawaii,” another driver said.

But the veterans can offer some advice: “Slow down and plan your moves.”

The SkidCar training is about making sure you’re truly prepared.

“Teach you proper acceleration proper breaking proper corner lines, how to get your eyes up looking farther down the road,” Johnston said.

These skills can keep you from making the innocent and potentially deadly mistakes.

“People seem to forget that when it’s slick, you need to slow down,” Johnston said.

In a four-hour lesson, you learn both in the classroom and behind the wheel.

So when you skid, you are ready.

“It won’t startle you. It won’t frighten you. You’ll know what to do,” Johnston said.

“Think it’s something we should be taught,” one driver said.

The goal of the class is simple.

“Is that at the end of the class, we hope everyone has the skill and knowledge and all that,” Johnston said. “But what we really want is for people to exercise the knowledge, so they don’t need the skill.”

When you’re in your car, you’re at risk– especially in dangerous conditions.

“Those are my favorite things, the saved stories. People that have taken the class and something has happened and they were able to recover from a slide or accident,” Johnston said.

SkidCar classes are available seven days a week and are year round.

If you would live to take a class call 541-330-4631 or 541-385-1749.

You can also visit www.deschutes.org/SkidCar