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Drive slowly, Be Prepared, Arrive SafelyFeb 23 '01 Write an essay on this topic.
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The Bottom Line Be Prepared, Drive Defensively Keep items in your car for warmth, tell someone which route you plan to take. The life you save may be yours.
Working in law enforcement, I get to see the nitty gritty stuff that most folks don't observe on a regular basis. Take for instance, the case of a young couple out for a drive in the early morning while the temperature hovered around 25 degrees. The streets were slushy, however the overpasses were still frozen. I noticed it myself on the way to work, that I should be slowing down on them. This couple was out for a good time, death never a second thought in their young, invincible lives. Then it happened, they hit a patch of ice on an overpass, their car went out of control hitting a stationary light pole, ejecting them both through the roof. Speed kills, especially in the winter time with icy, slushy streets. We were getting over a slight blizzard (is there such a thing?) the temperature hovering just over freezing. I thought the worst was over and attempted to change lanes in the slush. Suddenly I found myself moving ever closer to the oncoming cars. Trying to correct myself out of that one, I was now faced with heading towards the parked car on my right. Only by the grace of God did I pull out of that one. I am sure that this is not uncommon, that lots of folks can relate to this, which is why driving during the winter time can be dangerous. Ever see those cars on the Interstate/Tollway, facing the opposite direction on a median after a snow/ice storm? I am glad I've never experienced that, but it is a case of folks driving too fast for the conditions or the street crews not having time or resources to keep our streets safe. Perhaps they ran out of salt or sand at a particular place and had to go back for more. Please do not leave the house in "winter driving conditions" unless it is necessary. Street crews need to have the time to clear, in order: 1)Freeways, 2) Main roads, 3) Secondary roads and 4) residential streets. Growing cities frequently lack maintenance crews which are added only after the new residents have been there a while. (A larger area to clear with the same amount of equipment.) It is frequently several hours into "weather" that the streets are finally safe to drive on. If you must travel in "winter driving conditions" you may want to include: blankets, a candle, a coffee can to put the candle or other items in, matches or a lighter, candy or a snack food high in energy. If you light a candle and put it in a can, it is a good way to keep those cold fingers warm. As well, you may consider flares. I am not sure if flares will work when it is damp, but it is a good idea in dry weather to bring attention to yourself if you are stuck alongside the road. I've heard you should use chains when driving in the mountains, but I haven't used them in years so I will leave that topic to others. Also, do not leave your car running for a long period of time while you are inside without the window opened 3-4" to get in fresh air. It is possible that the odorless carbon monoxide will creep in and if you get sleepy, that may be the last nap you take. As well, include a first aid kit, a shovel to dig yourself out of a snowbank or if you've gotten high centered, kitty litter for traction and the ever useful jumper cables. I've tried floor mats for traction, but it seems that they just get thrown to the rear of the vehicle and I stay right where I'm at. As well take a cell phone if you have one, and if traveling in a rural area or a fair distance away, tell someone what route you plan to take. Those heat packs which are sold in the sporting goods department might not be a bad thing to have along for warmth. In January of 1975 I was 7 months pregnant with my son. The forecast for this day was snow flurries, about 25 degrees. I hate wearing gloves, so I left the house in a corduroy coat, no boots, no hat. Two hours later, they were sending folks home from work because of an impending blizzard that would drift snow half way up the side of a car. Be prepared for the worst! Then again, perhaps forecasting has improved over the past 30 years. You may also want to consider warming up your car before you leave the driveway. Some cars are notoriously cold blooded and if not properly warmed up, may want to stall in subzero weather even 2-3 miles away from home. Nothing worse than getting sassed by your car when it is 20 degrees below zero and you are FREEZING! As well, consider using the product Heet or using an Ethanol blend in your car to prevent gas line freezing (about an 89 octane). Ethanol is all that we used in our Mazdas and never had a problem with the gas line freezing even though we left them outside overnight and while at work. There is a grade of fuel which has a HIGH level of Ethanol. Do NOT use this unless your car is specifically designed for it. Usually the pump will have a disclaimer to that effect. As well, when driving in bad weather within the city, you may want to look ahead and see if you can time the lights so your stopping and starting will be at a minimum. I look ahead and see if the light ahead has turned red, and if so, slack off the gas, hoping by the time I get there, the light will have turned green. If the light is green, I adjust my speed so that I would be able to stop in a timely manner if it should turn red, rather than slamming on my brakes, and possibly losing control. As well, nothing worse than sitting at a green light and all you can do is literally spin your wheels. As well, before starting out from a green light, look both ways for those folks who were driving too fast or were too distracted to be able to stop on the red light. As well, keep that car clean of salt and road grime. "Dirty cars rust - see you next week!" as the sign at the car wash says... I hope I've given you a few ideas about safely getting from point A to point B during the winter driving season. It is almost over, YEA!  |
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