SAFE WINTER DRIVING

Course Information

Course Author: Teresa Patton, Training Administration

Course Issued: November 6, 2007

Course Credit: 30 minutes

ORACLE Course Code: SAFI10601

Data Sources:

Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)

The National Safety Council

eHow.com (website)

Performance Objectives

At the conclusion of this course, students will be able to:

1. Name the leading cause of death during winter storms.

2. Identify a list of things you can do to prepare your vehicle for the cold season.

3. Discuss the challenges of driving on snow, ice, and black ice.

4. Describe the best solutions to free your tires after becoming trapped in snow.

5. Discuss the guidelines to follow should you become stranded due to a blizzard.

6. Identify items that should be included in a vehicle emergency car kit.

Safe Winter Driving

Winter driving can be inconvenient, annoying, even infuriating. Transportation accidents are the leading cause of death during winter storms. But you can offset those frustrations and minimize the special risks of winter driving.

Winter can be rough on cars. Get your vehicle winter-ready with a maintenance check-up. Don’t wait for winter to have your battery, belts, hoses, radiator, oil, lights, brakes, exhaust system, heater/defroster, wipers, and ignition system checked.

Following is a list of things you can do to make sure your vehicle is ready for the cold season.

Be Prepared

► Get an engine tune-up in the fall.► Battery and voltage regulator should be checked.► Be sure all fluids are at proper levels. Antifreeze should not only

be strong enough to prevent freezing, but fresh enough to prevent rust.

► Make sure wiper blades are cleaning properly and that you have sufficient windshield washer fluid in the reservoir.

► Traction, traction, traction. Make sure your tires are in good condition. It can mean all the difference if you hit an icy patch.► Use a tire gauge to frequently check the tire pressure. Air contracts with cold, and the tires may become low as the temperature drops.► Don’t forget to check the air pressure in the spare tire and that all

the proper tire-changing equipment is in the trunk.

Be Prepared

► Get a brake check if you haven’t had one in the last six months.

► Check the lights, heater and defroster.► Keep the gas tank as full as possible to prevent moisture from freezing in the gas lines.► Don’t idle a cold vehicle’s engine for a long time to

warm it up – it could harm the engine. The right way to warm up a vehicle is to drive it.

Be Prepared

► Check weather and travel conditions before heading out. Don’t take chances if the weather is bad. Allow yourself extra time for travel, or wait until conditions improve.

► If you are traveling a long distance, plan your route ahead of time. Keep others informed of your schedule.

► Wear comfortable clothing that does not restrict your movement while at the wheel. Keep warm clothing for exiting your vehicle.

► Clear snow and ice from all windows, lights, mirrors, and the roof.

Be Prepared

TIP: Spray de-icing solution on the windshield. You can make your own de-icing solution – a mixture of half water and half vinegar.

Visibility

It is essential for drivers to see and be seen in low light conditions and when blowing snow and white-outs impair your visibility. Turn on your vehicle’s full lighting system in poor visibility.

Spacing

It takes longer to stop on a slippery road. It is important to leave plenty of space between you and the vehicle ahead.

Safe Winter Driving

TIP: You can’t control other people’s actions, so always drive defensively and carefully to avoid accidents and confrontations with other drivers.

Snow on a road may be hard-packed and slippery as ice. It can also be rutted and full of hard tracks and gullies, or it may be smooth and soft. Wet snow can make for slushy roads. Heavy slush can build up in the wheel wells of your vehicle and can affect your ability to steer. Look far ahead as you drive so you can recognize hazards and have plenty of time to react. Adjust your driving to the road and weather conditions.

Snowy Roads

Be careful when approaching shaded areas, bridges, and overpasses, as these sections of road freeze much sooner in cold weather and stay frozen long after the sun has risen.

If you hit a patch of ice, here are some tips to help you stay in control:

► Slow down, but don’t brake too quickly as this could lock your brakes and cause you to lose traction completely.

► Instead, decelerate by taking your foot slowly off the accelerator, and shift the car to neutral or de-clutch (manual transmission).

► Make smooth steering movements, not jerky turns, and, in the event your car starts to spin, turn your wheel in the direction of the spin.

► If the car is skidding, turn the wheel in the direction you want the car to go.► If your car has anti-lock brakes, do not remove your foot from the brake

pedal or pump the brake. The system should keep the brakes from locking while allowing you to steer and continue to slow down the vehicle.

Ice

TIP: Avoid using your cruise control when driving on ice!

Clear water that has frozen on dark roadways is known as “black” ice. Black ice presents a hidden trap for motorists who cannot see the slick pavement. It is particularly prevalent on bridges, below overpasses and in areas surrounded by trees.

Encountering black ice is greatest when the temperature is near or below freezing. For the reason that road surfaces can freeze long before water freezes, (road surfaces can freeze when air temperatures are as warm as 40◦F) drivers may think the shiny road surface is water until their tires start to slip and it is too late.

Black ice can form even when it’s not raining or snowing. In freezing areas of the United States, condensation from dew on roadways will freeze forming a thin layer of ice that creates one of the slickest road conditions there is. Even in areas that are not used to freezing temperatures, such as the Gulf Coast and Southeast, a sudden blast of cold air from the north can quickly freeze and leave roadways very slick.

Black Ice

Because black ice can form so quickly and is so camouflaged on the road, Occupational Safety and Health Administration officials call it the deadliest of all winter driving hazards. Here’s what to look out for:

► Pavement that looks dry but appears darker in color.

► Low-lying areas that may have water runoff from nearby trees or land.

► Bridges, which typically freeze first.

► Underpasses and other road areas that are shaded from the sun.

► Air temperatures that fall below 40◦F (expect icy conditions).

Black Ice

SLOW DOWN! Keep in mind that driving in snow, sleet, and ice is very treacherous. A highway speed of 55 miles per hour may be safe in dry weather, but an invitation for trouble on snow and ice. In the snow, the tires are always just barely grabbing the road so remember do everything slowly and gently – accelerating, turning, and braking. Rapid movements lead to skids and loss of control. Anticipate your turns and stops and be more observant. Keep your seatbelt buckled!

Safe Winter Driving

If you accidentally slide off the road or in some other way find your tires trapped in snow or mud, here are the best solutions to set your auto free:

► Turn your wheels from side to side a few times to push snow out of the way. Keep a light touch on the gas, and ease forward. Don’t spin your wheels – you’ll just dig in deeper.

► Rocking the vehicle is another way to get unstuck. (Check your owner’s manual first – it can damage the transmission on some vehicles.) Shift from forward to reverse and back again. Each time you’re in gear, give a light touch on the gas until the vehicle gets going.► Front-wheel drive vehicles, snow tires should be on the front – the driving

axle – for better traction in mud or snow.► Especially in cold weather regions, make sure you always travel with an

auto emergency kit, hats, gloves, and outerwear.► If all else fails, call a tow truck or use distress signals to flag down help.

Getting Unstuck

FEMA (Federal Emergency Management Agency) recommends the following guidelines should you become stranded in your car due to a blizzard:

► Pull off the highway. Turn on hazard lights and hang a distress flag, or brightly colored cloth, from the radio antenna or window.

► Remain in your vehicle where rescuers are most likely to find you. Do not set out on foot unless you can see a building close by where you know you can take shelter. Be careful – distances are distorted by blowing snow. A building may seem close, but be too far to walk to in deep snow. Don’t wander and get lost or frostbitten.

► Run the engine and heater about 10 minutes each hour to keep warm. When the engine is running, open a downwind

window slightly for ventilation and periodically clear snow from the exhaust pipe. This will protect you from possible carbon monoxide poisoning.

If You Get Stranded

► Exercise to maintain body heat, but avoid overexertion. In extreme cold, use road maps, seat covers, and floor mats for insulation. Huddle with passengers and use your coat for a blanket.

► Take turns sleeping. One person should be awake at all times to look for rescue crews.

► Drink fluids to avoid dehydration.

► Be careful not to waste battery power. Balance electrical energy needs – the use of lights, heat, and radio – with supply.

► Turn on the inside light at night so work crews or rescuers can see you.

► If stranded in a remote area, stomp large block letters in an open area spelling out HELP or SOS and line with rocks or tree limbs to attract the attention of rescue personnel who may be surveying the area by airplane.

► Leave the car and proceed on foot – IF NECESSARY – once the blizzard passes.

If You Get Stranded

If You Get Stranded

Further advice should you become stranded:

► Avoid alcohol. It lowers body temperature and will cause you to become drowsy.► Freezing winds and driving, wet snow

can quickly seal a vehicle. Leave one window cracked open.

► Signal to other motorists that you’re stranded by using flares or flashlights.

If You Get Stranded

Emergency Supply Kit

Place a winter emergency kit in each vehicle that includes:

► Snow shovel► Scraper with a brush on one end► Flashlight► Battery powered radio► Extra batteries► Water► Snack food, preferably high energy (chocolate or dried fruit, for example)► Matches► Extra hats, socks and mittens► First-aid kit with pocket knife► Necessary medications► Blanket(s) or sleeping bag(s)► Tow chain or rope► Road salt and sand► Booster cables► Emergency flares► Fluorescent distress flag (or brightly colored cloth)► Charged cell phone or other communication device

Emergency Supply Kit

Self-Test

Course Review

Question #1 – True or False

Transportation accidents are the leading cause of death during winter storms.

Course ReviewSelf Test

True

Click for answer

Question #2 – True or False

Antifreeze should not only be strong enough to prevent freezing, but fresh enough to prevent rust.

Course ReviewSelf Test

True

Click for answer

Question #3 – True or False

Hard-packed snow on a road can be as slippery as ice.

Course ReviewSelf Test

True

Click for answer

Question #4 – True or False

If you hit a patch of ice and your car starts to skid, turn the wheel in the opposite direction you want the car to go.

Course ReviewSelf Test

False. Turn the wheel in the direction you want the car to go.

Click for answer

Question #5 – True or False

Clear water that has frozen on dark roadways is known as “black” ice.

Course ReviewSelf Test

True

Click for answer

Question #6 – True or False

Black ice can form even when it’s not raining or snowing.

Course ReviewSelf Test

True

Click for answer

Question #7 – True or False

If you become stranded, it is best to remain in your vehicle where rescuers are more likely to find you.

Course ReviewSelf Test

True

Click for answer

Question #8 – True or False

Always carry a winter emergency car kit in your vehicle.

Course ReviewSelf Test

True

Click for answer