By Teresa Herriman, The Courier-Herald
It's that time of year again. Time to brush up on winter driving techniques. Here's some tips to help keep everyone safe on the road.
Before Leaving
€ Allow extra time to clear snow and ice from the vehicle.
€ Clear all of the windows on the vehicle, not just the spot directly in front of the driver.
€ McGiver Tip: If you don't have an ice scraper, a credit card works in a pinch.
€ Don't forget to clear the exterior mirrors, headlamps and tail lights.
€ Check weather and pass reports.
On the Road
€ Slow down.
Motivating down the road is not usually the problem. Stopping is. Remember, the laws of physics apply even in the winter. That means the bigger and heavier the vehicle, the longer it will take to stop.
€ Don't terrorize other drivers.
Sport-utility owners may be particularly susceptible. Repeat this phrase 10 times before leaving the driveway: Four-wheel drive does NOT mean a vehicle can still do 65. (See above physics rule.)
€ Turn on the headlamps, even in the daylight.
This is not the time for stealth driving. The idea is to see and be seen. Studies have shown that other drivers can see oncoming vehicles with headlamps on more clearly than vehicles that don't.
€ Give the vehicle ahead extra room.
Everyone hates a tailgater, especially in inclement weather. According to police reports, the most common accident is one vehicle sliding into the rear end of the vehicle ahead of it. The extra room also gives drivers extra time to avoid an accident, if emergency maneuvers are necessary.
€ Always, always wear a seatbelt
Wearing the lap belt only doesn't count. Ask your friendly police officer or paramedic, the shoulder belt will help keep occupants from being ejected from the vehicle during an accident. The lap belt alone won't.
€ Show a little kindness.
Everyone makes mistakes. Don't turn a mistake into an accident.
€ Show a little patience.
If the car ahead is going too slow, take the opportunity to enjoy the scenery. Snow driving can be scary for some folks. Riding their tail can make matters worse. Think of how inconvenienced you'd be if your impatience caused an accident because you forced the driver to drive faster than he or she was comfortable.
€ Give everyone extra, extra space when stopping on a hill.
Some cars still have manual transmissions. If you don't want the car in front of you to the end up on your bumper, back off.
€ Put the latte down and put the cell phone away.
Icy, wintry conditions require both hands on the wheel and every brain cell on high alert. Multi-task when you get to your destination.
€ Slow down and look both ways at intersections.
This generally good idea is even more important when driving in ice and snow. The patch of pavement at a stop light or stop sign is typically especially icy from vehicles spinning their tires at the same spot. Even if you have the green light, that oncoming car could hit that ice and fail to stop. Stay alert.
Be Prepared
Including these few items could make a difficult situation more bearable:
€ Blanket
€ Cell phone (at the ready, not on your ear.)
€ Emergency phone numbers (a pre-paid phone card isn't a bad idea either, especially if you don't have a cell phone.)
€ First aid kit
€ Emergency flares
€ Tire chains
€ Water and a couple of snack bars
€ Boots and gloves (the practical kind, not the pretty kind.)
Teresa Herriman can be reached at therriman@courierherald.com.
