When heavy snow falls, as we’re seeing this spring in Boston, and across the Northeast, there’s hidden disasters waiting to happen under the snow. While heavy snow should keep drivers at home, you’ll find many people who think they can still navigate snowy streets. This is where things get dangerous. When heavy snow falls, you don’t always remember where things are, such as sidewalks, fire hydrants and even concrete barriers.

While concrete barriers are often put up to help with traffic flow and block off areas that can’t be accessed at a given time, they’re usually high enough that even when snow falls, you can still see them. However, when heavy snowfall occurs – like the historic snowstorms in Boston in the spring of 2015 – you can’t see things like fire hydrants and concrete barriers. This can be potentially deadly for drivers who shouldn’t be on the streets anyway.

In order to avoid concrete barriers, you have to know where they are. If you can’t see them and visibility is poor, even if you’ve driven down the same street for 20 years, you’re going to miss it, especially in the snow. Snow not only limits visibility, but when it’s heavy, it makes a variety of things blend together. When combined with a concrete barrier, it’s easy to miss, hit and cause an accident you might not live through.

The best thing to do when driving in poor visibility is to go slow, follow traffic patterns, and take your time. Patience is a virtue when it comes to driving in poor weather, especially snow, and if you can avoid going out at all, that’s the safest way to avoid any obstacles in your way. Concrete barriers can destroy your car, injure you and potentially cause lasting damage that can’t be repaired to you, your car and the surrounding area.