Dealing with the weather
Nothing
spoils a road trip faster than a weather-related accident,
whether it’s a simple fender-bender, a slide into
a shallow ditch, or a 5-car chain collision on wet
roads. Weather affects driving year around, but its
presence is most severely felt in the winter. So, be prepared:
- Winterize
your vehicle. Get a tune-up and be sure to check
the battery
levels in your vehicle. Consider buying snow
tires or
chains for the tires, as your travel dictates (Chains
work best
on glare ice, be sure to check with local authorities;
some areas prohibit their use).
- Check
for and change burned-out headlights, tail lights and
turn signals;
check tire tread and
wear – minimum tread
is 1/16" for adequate traction. Make sure
brakes are in proper working order, keep spare
window
washer fluid in
the trunk and make sure the washer blades are in
good working condition.
Prepare a winter emergency
kit for your car(s). Include:
- Blankets
(at least two) or a sleeping bag. Flashlight/lantern and
extra batteries, and road flares. Booster (jumper) cables.Extra
clothing (boots, hats and mittens.) Rope and steel shovel.Bottled
water or
juice, nonperishable high-energy foods such as granola
bars, raisins, crackers, etc. First-aid kit.Tire repair
kit and pump. Ice scraper with snow brush. Cell phone
with its car charger.And a
bag of sand or non-clumping cat litter for traction
if you get stuck in snow.
Stay
tuned to weather reports, and allow driving time for bad
weather
and/or traffic
delays.
Know your vehicle’s
winter weather operating characteristics.
Front-wheel-drive vehicles
generally handle better than rear-wheel
vehicles on slippery roads because
the weight of the engine is on
the drive wheels,
improving traction.
Keep your windows
clear of snow and ice. Clean
head, tail and brake
lights,
too.
Keep your
gas tank at
least half
full. Fill
the tank before you park for
lengthy periods. This will help prevent
fuel line freeze-up.
Remember, if you need
to turn
on your wipers, you need to turn
on your headlights.
Bridges become
slippery before roads, so drive with extreme
caution during
freezing
temperatures.
Leave
ample stopping
time between you and the driver
in front of you. Braking distance
can
be up to
nine times
greater
on snowy,
icy surfaces than
on dry roads.
If your vehicle
is equipped with an Anti-lock Braking System
(ABS),
be
sure to firmly
depress the brake
pedal, stay
on the brakes (do not pump
them). Steer where you want
the vehicle
to go.Gently pump non-ABS
brakes to stop. Take any corrective
action gradually,
to help you
maintain full control of
the vehicle.
Supply those
at your destination with your cell phone number,
departure time,
travel
route and
anticipated
arrival time.
If
you get stranded …
Remain with the vehicle, so
that if nothing else, you
are guaranteed
shelter.
Other
helpful tips
include:
- Tie
a bright-colored cloth to the car’s antenna, driver
door handle or outside mirror.
- Keep
the exhaust pipe clear of snow to prevent poisonous
gases from filtering into the
vehicle.
- Run
the engine and heater no more than 10 minutes every hour,
leaving a downwind window
slightly open for ventilation.
- Light
a flare or turn on a flashlight to let others know you’re
stranded.
- Use
floor mats, seat covers and blankets for added warmth.
- If
you must leave the car during a severe snow storm or
blizzard, tie a line of rope
or cord
to yourself and the vehicle to
avoid becoming lost or disoriented.
- Keep
bottled water in your emergency kit or
vehicle.
- Never
eat snow. It will chill you and lower your body temperature.
- Remain
calm. Chances
for rescue are better if you remain calm and
in your vehicle.
In
the summer, remember that
hot weather
and under-inflated
tires
are a dangerous
combination.
A tire industry
survey found
85 percent of
drivers fail
to properly check
tire
pressure.
The National
Highway Traffic Safety
Administration
estimates
that crashes
associated
with tire problems
take approximately 660
lives each
year and injure 33,000
people.
NHTSA urges
drivers to
check tire
pressure and
tread wear
often,
but especially
during the
hot summer
months when
overloaded
vehicles, under-inflated
tires, and
hot weather
can all
combine
to ruin
a simple
drive. Properly
maintained
tires
improve the
steering, stopping,
traction and
fuel economy
of your
vehicle; underinflated
tires or
worn treads
are a major
cause of
failure.
For proper
care of your
tires
and procedures
to check the
air pressure
and treads,
go online to www.safercar.gov.
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