Police emphasize winter-driving safety after Friday crashes closed Glenn Highway

Anchorage police are warning drivers to be wary of hazardous road conditions due to snow and ice after multiple crashes closed the Glenn Highway on Friday afternoon.

All outbound lanes of the Glenn Highway were closed at the Eklutna exit as of 4:11 p.m. after a crash. And another crash on the Glenn near Turpin Street, in East Anchorage, closed part of the highway Friday afternoon.

All lanes of the Glenn Highway were reopened by 6 p.m., according to police.

Areas currently giving drivers the most issues include the Lower Hillside and the Glenn Highway between Muldoon Road and Turpin Street, police said Friday.

Anchorage police offered these winter driving tips in an alert:

• Turn on your headlights and use your turn signals. Help other drivers to see you.

• Make sure all of your exterior lights are in working order.

• Clear all of the snow off of your car so you can see out and you’re not blinding other drivers by having the snow blow off your car and onto theirs.

• After you’ve stopped at a red light, and it cycles to green, do not go before looking both ways and making sure no one is running the light.

• Leave plenty of room between you and the vehicle in front of yours to give you extra stopping room.

• Keep emergency gear in your car such as warm clothing, a shovel, jumper cables, flashlight, etcetera.

• Give yourself extra time to arrive at your destination. If you’re late – you’re late. Don’t chance driving too fast for road conditions which can lead to collisions. And then you’ll really be late.

• When you come to a stop behind another vehicle, do not pull all the way up on their bumper. Leave room to maneuver in case the car coming in behind yours needs extra stopping space.

• When you’re driving, look not only at the car directly in front of yours, but three to four cars ahead. The sooner you’re aware of a problem on the roadway, the more time you have to react and either stop or move.

• Keep a phone charger in your car so a dead cell phone battery does not prevent you for calling for help in the event you should need to.