聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 Ice, snow, and poor seasonal conditions for driving is just around the corner. Safety is one of the most important aspects to driving in winter and taking the time to prepare for winter driving is essential.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 Last year was relatively good seasonal conditions, but the Farmer鈥檚 Almanac is predicting weather to be colder than normal with slightly above average snowfall.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 Preparing for winter comes with preparing an emergency kit to be carried in the vehicle. Items to be kept in the trunk include a shovel, sand, a warning light, extra clothing and footwear, booster cables, extra windshield washer fluid with antifreeze, snack bars, 鈥渆mergency鈥� food and water.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 Other items suggested to carry inside the vehicle include an ice scraper and brush, flashlight, first aid kit, matches and a survival candle, as well as a blanket.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 CAA also suggests individuals to carry a fully charged cell phone in case of emergency.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 Before traveling, it is also important to conduct a vehicle checkup: looking at the electrical system of the vehicle, brakes, tires, the exhaust system, heating/cooling system, windshield wipers, and keeping an eye on the fuel tank ensuring you have enough for not only the trip, but to use as a source of heat if needed.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 Though these are precautionary items to carry on a trip as well as regular maintenance, it is also important to plan ahead. Checking the weather and road conditions before taking to the road are ways to possibly avoid traveling through storms. It may also help encourage drivers to take extra time to get to and from one鈥檚 destination according to road conditions.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 Cruise control can actually put a vehicle into a skid as may hydroplane, causing the tires to lose contact with the road surface, while the vehicle attempts to accelerate to maintain speed. Reducing power to tires prevents skids, so when wheels continue to spin it increases the chances of losing control of one鈥檚 vehicle. ()
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 According to CAA, snow and ice are more slippery when the temperature is nearer 0掳C than it is at -20掳C. Black ice is also more likely to be found at temperatures between 4掳C and -4掳C. Black ice often forms in shaded areas of highways, bridges, and overpasses. Though it is difficult to tell where black ice is, it is important to watch for dark, shiny patches on the highway.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 While on the road it is also necessary to leave extra space between the vehicle in front of you and your own as stopping takes longer when the roads are slippery with ice and snow.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 According to Forensic Dynamics Inc. their Stopping Distance Calculator calculates stopping in snow while traveling 100km/h at 131.22m as opposed to 56.23m on dry asphalt. While travelling at 110km/h, the speed it seems most drivers travel on Hwy 13, it takes 158.78m to stop as opposed to 80.98m on dry asphalt.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 On ice traveling at 100km/h can result in braking taking 262.45m, while the vehicle can also be put into a skid. At 110km/h it can take up to 317.56m to stop.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 If something does happen that results in your being trapped in a storm or you collide with a snow bank on the side of the road, stay calm. Avoid heavy shoveling in the cold, but do make sure to check the tailpipe and make sure it is not covered by snow.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 It is suggested that keeping a window cracked open on the side of the vehicle sheltered from the wind supplies fresh air. Use a survival candle to keep warm as opposed to the vehicle鈥檚 heater. Staying awake is also important to remain attentive in watching for traffic or searchers and exercising your arms and legs while in the vehicle.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 Ultimately it is important to be prepared for anything and although being stranded on the side of the road is not a usual occurrence for most, but it is a very real concern during these coming cold months and it鈥檚 best to be prepared.
