Winter Driving Tips Install Good Winter Tires Make sure the tires have adequate tread All-weather radials are usually adequate for most winter conditions Some jurisdictions require that vehicles be equipped with chains or snow tires with studs in order to drive on their road Other Tips— Keep a windshield scraper and small broom handy for ice and snow removal Keep at least ½ tank of gas during the winter season Plan long trips carefully • Listen to the radio or call the state highway patrol for the latest road conditions • Always travel during daylight • If possible, take at least one other person with you Use alternate transportation • If you must go out during a winter storm, use Vehicle Safety Facts public transportation whenever possible Transportation accidents Dress warmly • Leading cause of death during winter storms • Wear layers of loose-fitting, layered, Keys to safe winter driving lightweight clothing • Preparing your vehicle for the winter season Carry food and water • Knowing how to react if stranded or lost on • Store high energy "munchies" and several the road bottles of water • Allow for expansion in container if Before a Storm water might freeze Develop a list of designated drivers For more winter driving information, contact: • Only designated drivers should operate • Your local emergency management office district vehicles • American Automobile Association (AAA) Check Motor Vehicle Registrations (MVR’s) on all • American Red Cross chapter designated drivers • Have MVR policy in place Winter Driving Techniques Equip all vehicles with Accident Reporting kits Be aware that ramps, bridges, and overpasses may Have a mechanic check the following on vehicles: freeze first • Battery Be aware of “black ice” (roads that look wet but are • Antifreeze actually glazed with ice) • Wipers Know how your anti-lock brakes work in slippery • Windshield washer fluid conditions • Ignition system Do not pump your brakes if they are anti-lock brakes • Thermostat Drive well below the posted speed limit and avoid • Lights the use of cruise control when snow, ice, freezing • Flashing hazard lights rain or sleet is on the pavement • Exhaust system Do not drive through “white out” conditions • Heater Stay a safe distance behind other vehicles, especially • Brakes snowplows • Defroster Never try to pass a snowplow • Oil level (if necessary, replace existing oil with Turn on your lights—to see and be seen a winter grade oil or SAE 5W30)) • Brush the snow off your headlights and tail lights frequently Buckle Up!

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If You’re Trapped in a Car during a Storm— Winter Car Kit Stay in the car Keep these items in your car: • Do not leave the car to search for assistance unless help is visible within 100 yards  Flashlights with extra batteries . You may become disoriented and lost  First aid kit with pocket knife in blowing and drifting snow Display a trouble sign  Necessary medications • Hang a brightly colored cloth on the radio  Several blankets antenna and raise the hood if weather permits  Sleeping bags Occasionally run engine to keep warm  Extra newspapers for insulation • Turn on the car's engine for about 10 minutes each hour  Plastic bags (for sanitation) . Run the heater when the car is  Matches or lighter running . Also, turn on the car's dome light  Extra set of mittens, socks, and a wool when the car is running cap Beware of carbon monoxide poisoning • Keep the exhaust pipe clear of snow, and  Cell phone battery open a downwind window slightly for  Rain gear and extra clothes ventilation Watch for signs of frostbite and hypothermia  Small sack of sand for generating traction • Frostbite is a severe reaction to cold under wheels exposure that can permanently damage its victims  Small shovel . A loss of feeling and a white or pale  Small tools (pliers, wrench, screwdriver) appearance in fingers, toes, or nose and ear lobes are symptoms of  Booster cables frostbite  Set of tire chains or traction mats Do minor exercises to keep up circulation • Clap hands and move arms and legs  Cards, games, and puzzles occasionally  Brightly colored cloth to use as a flag • Try not to stay in one position for too long • If more than one person is in the car, take  Canned fruit and nuts (allow for freezing) turns sleeping and huddle together  Non-electric can opener • Use newspapers, maps, and even the removable car mats for added insulation  Bottled water (allow for freezing) Avoid overexertion • Cold weather puts an added strain on the heart • Unaccustomed exercise such as shoveling snow or digging out a car can bring on a heart attack or make other medical conditions worse • Be aware of symptoms of dehydration

2 SKIDDING • When the front wheels have regained their grip, steer the wheels gently in the desired direction of The most effective way to get your vehicle back travel. under control during a skid is as follows: • Release the clutch or shift to drive and apply Rear-wheel skids gentle accelerator pressure so that the engine • Take your foot off the brake or accelerator. speed matches the road speed, and accelerate • De-clutch on a car with a manual transmission, or smoothly to a safe speed. shift to neutral on a car with automatic • There is no risk of the car skidding in the opposite transmission. direction. • Look and steer in the direction you want the front Four-wheel skids of the car to go. • Ease foot off the accelerator or take your foot off • As the rear wheels stop skidding to the right or the brake. left, counter-steer until you are going in the • De-clutch on a car with manual transmission or desired direction. shift to neutral on a car with an automatic • In a rear-wheel drive vehicle, if you over-correct transmission, if you can do so quickly. the first skid (Step 4), be prepared for a rear- • Look and steer in the direction you want the front wheel skid in the opposite direction. Practice and of the car to go. the use of timely, gentle movement of the • Wait for the wheels to grip the road again. As steering wheel are necessary to avoid this type of soon as traction returns, the vehicle will travel in skid. the desired direction. • Once the vehicle is straight, release the clutch or • Release the clutch or shift to drive and maintain a shift to drive, apply gentle accelerator pressure so safe speed. that the engine speed matches the road speed, and • NOTE: Avoid using overdrive on slippery surfaces. accelerate smoothly to a safe speed.

Front-wheel skids JUMP STARTING • Take your foot off the brake or accelerator. • Position vehicles so that the batteries are close, • De-clutch on a car with manual transmission, or but don’t let the vehicles touch. Make sure both shift to neutral on a car with automatic vehicles are turned off. transmission. • Connect one end of the RED jump lead to the • If the front wheels have been turned prior to the positive terminal of the dead battery. Don’t let loss of traction, don't move the steering wheel. the other end of the red lead touch any metal. Since the wheels are skidding sideways, a certain • Connect the other end of the RED lead to the amount of braking force will be exerted. positive terminal of the boosting battery. (Unwinding the steering wheel will result in • Connect one end of the Black jump lead to the regaining steering sooner; however, the vehicle negative terminal of the boosting battery. will be traveling faster because there is little • Connect the other end of the Black lead to a bolt sideways braking force. This technique should or metal bracket, well away from the battery on only be attempted in situations where limited the engine block of the vehicle that is dead. space and sharp curves exist -- however, in this • Ensure that the jump leads can’t come into case do not reduce pressure on the brakes, contact with any moving parts. Start the engine because the vehicle will shoot off in the direction of the boosting vehicle and run it at a fast idle. the wheels are facing.) Now start the engine of the dead vehicle. • Wait for the front wheels to grip the road again. • Stop the engine of the boosting vehicle ONLY, As soon as traction returns, the vehicle will start and then disconnect the jump leads in the to steer again. reverse order of connection.

3 BRAKING Coffee Can Survival Kit for Winter Driving To equip your vehicle with winter survival gear, Stopping on slippery surfaces means motorists here’s what you'll need: must increase sight lines, following and  A 2 or 3 pound coffee can (punch 3 stopping distances. Beware of shaded spots, holes at the top of can, equal distance bridges, overpasses and intersections. These apart); you'll be storing the other are areas where ice is likely to form first or be items inside the can the most slippery.  60-inch length of twine or heavy Braking if you don't have anti-lock brakes string (cut into 3 equal pieces - used • If you don't have anti-lock brakes, the most to suspend can) efficient technique for braking under these  3 large safety pins (tie string to safety conditions is to use threshold braking together pins and pin to car roof interior to with de-clutching (manual shift) or shifting to suspend can over candle) neutral (automatic transmission). The best way to  1 candle 2" diameter (place on lid threshold brake (to make a controlled stop) is the under suspended can for melting heel-and-toe method. Keep the heel of your foot snow) on the floor and use your toes to apply firm,  1 pocket knife, reasonably sharp (or steady pressure on the brake pedal just short of substitute with scissors) lockup to the point at which the wheels stop  3 pieces of bright cloth 2" wide x 36" turning. • Under the stress of trying to stop quickly, drivers long (tie to antenna or door handle) inevitably overreact and lock the wheels. If this  Several packets of soup, hot happens, use toe-and-heel actions to release chocolate, tea, bouillon cubes, etc. brake pressure one or two degrees, then (mixed into melted snow to provide immediately reapply it with slightly less pressure. warmth and nutrition) Braking with anti-lock brakes  Plastic spoon • According to a survey conducted by the CAA/AAA  1 small package of peanuts (provides Foundation for Traffic Safety, 50% of people are protein) & fruit-flavored candy unaware of how anti-lock brakes and traditional (orange slices, jelly beans, etc.— brakes differ. If you have an anti-lock brake avoid chocolate) system (ABS), use the heel-and-toe method, but  1 pair of athletic socks (cotton) and 1 do not remove your foot from the brake. When pair of glove liners (cotton) you put on the brakes hard enough to make the  2 packages of book matches wheels lock momentarily, you will typically feel  1 sun shield blanket or 2 large green the brake pedal pulse back against your foot. or black plastic leaf bags (to reflect Don't let up! body heat) • Novice ABS users can try hard braking in a vacant  snow-covered parking lot. 1 pen light and batteries (keep separate) How ABS works  Two quarters and two dimes for • A sensor located at each wheel detects when the telephone calls wheel stops turning and starts to skid. As soon as the skid is detected, the anti-lock system relieves the pressure just enough to allow the wheel to turn again. This allows you to steer while you continue to bring the vehicle to a stop.

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