The Three P's
PREPARE for the Trip,
PROTECT Yourself, and;
PREVENT crashes on the road
PREPARE
Maintain Your Car:
·
Is your battery good?
·
Tires? Tread okay? Do you need
snow tires?
·
See and be seen -- keep your
windows clear of snow
·
Put no-freeze fluid in the
washer reservoir
·
Check your cooling system's
antifreeze
Have On Hand:
·
Flashlight
·
Jumper cables
·
Abrasive material (like sand,
kitty litter, traction mats, even floor mats)
·
Shovel
·
Warning devices
·
Blankets (or floor mats and
newspapers)
·
Snow Brush/Ice Scraper
Long Trips? Add:
·
Food
·
Water
·
Medication
·
Blankets
·
Cell phone
Stopped or Stalled?
·
Stay with your car
· Don't over exert
·
Put bright marker on
antenna/in windows/shine dome light
·
Clear exhaust pipe, if you run
your car
·
Run your car just long enough
to remove the chill
Plan Your Route
·
Be familiar with the
maps/directions to avoid confusion
·
Check the weather reports and
adjust starting time
·
Let others know how you are
coming and when you'll arrive
New to Cold Weather
Driving? Practice!
·
In a wide open snow or
ice-covered parking lot, during daylight hours, rehearse slow driving
maneuvers
·
Steer into a skid
·
Know what your brakes will do
o
with antilock brakes, stomp
and steer
o
without ABS, pump the brakes
to avoid wheel lock-up
·
Slow down. Stopping distances
are longer on water-covered ice and ice
·
Don't be tempted to start your
car in enclosed space or idle for a long time with the windows up.
PROTECT
YOURSELF
·
Buckle up
·
Use child safety seats
properly
·
Never place a rear-facing seat
in front of an air bag
·
The safest place for all
children 12 and under is in the back seat
·
Sit back 10 inches from an air
bag
PREVENT
CRASHES
·
As Always: drugs and
alcohol don't mix with driving -- it is worse on slippery roads
·
Slow down
and increase distances between cars
·
Keep your eyes open for pedestrians
walking in the road
·
Get plenty of rest/Avoid
fatigue
·
Stop every three hours
·
Rotate
drivers
