Winter Driving Safety

Driving in the winter means snow, sleet, and ice that can lead to slower traffic, hazardous road conditions, hot tempers, and unforeseen dangers. There are all kinds of tips to help you make it through the winter safely. Here are but a few suggestions from the Utah Safety Council (USC) to make sure that you and your vehicle are prepared:

• Prepare your vehicle for winter with a proper tune-up to ensure that it is running properly. Check the owner's manual for the recommended intervals.
  Courtesy of the State of Indiana
• Always keep at least a half a tank of gas in your car. Your trunk should carry: a properly inflated spare tire, wheel wrench and tripod-type jack, a shovel, jumper cables, tow and tire chains, a bag of salt or cat litter and a tool kit.
• Keep an “emergency kit” in your vehicle at all times. This kit should include a working flashlight and extra batteries, reflective triangles and brightly-colored cloth, emergency blanket, first aid kit, exterior windshield cleaner, ice scraper and snow brush, wooden stick matches in a waterproof container and non-perishable high energy foods.

The USC also informs us to reduce the risk of skids we should:

• Adjust our speed to the conditions and increase following distances.
• Remember that bridges and overpasses can be more slippery than other parts of the road.

• If you begin to skid, remain calm, ease your foot off the gas and turn the wheel in the direction you want the car to go.
• Target the empty lane that you’re trying to get to. Don’t look at whatever pulled out or stepped out in front of you. Aim at the empty lane.
• Be gentle on steering and brakes.
• If you can see you’re going to be hit from the rear, let off the brake to diminish impact, and move your head back into the head rest.
• Never pump anti-lock brakes. Apply a steady firm pressure to the brake pedal.

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) offer this recommendation:

PREPARE:  

Be sure that each member of your family has a warm coat, hat, mittens or gloves, and insulated, water-resistant boots. Have extra blankets handy.

Put together an emergency kit for your vehicle, which expounds on the USC requirements and includes:

• Battery powered portable radio and extra batteries
• Bright colored-cloth (preferably red)
• Blankets
• Bottled water
• Cones, warning triangles or emergency flares should be kept in the trunk
• Duct tape
• Emergency cash ($20 or more)
• Extra set of clothing, socks and underwear for each family member
• Empty gas can
• First aid kit
  Courtesy of Amazon.com
• Fire extinguisher (5 lb., A-B-C type)
• Flares
• Flashlight with spare batteries
• Fuses
• Jack for tires
• Jumper cables
• Maps
• Pocketknife
• Portable radio with spare batteries
• Pre-moistened towelettes
• Roll of paper towels
• Reflective vest
• Scissors
• Snack food (high-energy, non-perishable foods: canned nuts, granola bars, peanut butter)
• Shovel
• Small card with information about family medical allergies or conditions emergency phone numbers of family and friends
• Spare tire: Be sure to have your spare tire checked each time you have your tires rotated.
• Tire pressure gauge
• Tool box with screwdrivers, wrenches and a small hammer (keep this in glove compartment)
• Tow rope
• Window scraper for ice
• Insurance: health and car insurance card, phone number of agent, 1-800 number of company
• Non-perishable, high energy foods like unsalted canned nuts, dried fruits, and hard candy

PROTECT YOURSELF:

Photo by pixy.org

• Buckle up and use child safety seats properly.
• Never place a rear-facing infant seat in front of an air bag.
• Children 12 and under are much safer in the back seat.

PREVENT CRASHES:

• Slow down and increase distances between cars.
• Keep your eyes open for pedestrians walking in the road.
• Avoid fatigue – Get plenty of rest before the trip, stop at least every three hours, and rotate drivers if possible.

Weather:

At any temperature—20 degrees Fahrenheit below zero or 90 degrees Fahrenheit above—weather affects road and driving conditions and can pose serious problems. It is important to listen to forecasts on radio, TV, cable weather channel, or forecasts in the daily papers.

What to Watch for:

Know what winter storm watches, warnings and blizzards are:

• A winter storm WATCH indicates there may be a winter storm in your area.
• A WARNING occurs when a winter storm is definitely coming.
• A BLIZZARD means strong winds, wind-driven snow, and dangerous wind chills are expected... stay inside!

During a Winter Storm Watch:

• Stay tuned for continuing information. Listen to your local TV and radio stations for storm updates.
• Be aware of changing weather conditions.

During a Blizzard:

• Travel only if necessary. If you must travel, be sure to have your winter travel necessities.

Risk Management and Safety requests:

Be careful driving during the winter months because you never know what you might run into!