Winter driving: Being prepared reduces mishaps

  • Published
  • By Tech. Sgt. Melissa Morris
  • 19th Airlift Wing Ground Safety
LITTLE ROCK AIR FORCE BASE, Ark. --  Winter officially begins Dec. 21 and with the onset of winter, the potential for inclement weather driving increases dramatically. Whether traveling for the holidays or driving to work, it pays to be prepared for the unexpected. Getting stranded during a winter storm can ruin a trip or even worse; if unprepared, it can be a matter of life and death.

Drivers can protect themselves and their passengers by following these winter travel rules provided by the National Highway Traffic and Safety Administration and the Little Rock Air Force Base wing safety offices:

 Plan ahead; use available resources to check weather and road conditions. Don't forget to plan travel routes ahead of time; road construction and traffic pile-ups can add to driving frustrations. Resources to consider are:
· HERK or HERC Line - 987-4375 or 987-4372
· TRiPS: https://trips.safety.army.mil/af
· www.mapquest.com
· www.weather.com
· Arkansas State Highway and Transportation Department: 1-800-245-1672 or 501-569-2374

 Pack a winter travel safety kit. Invest in a snowbrush and an ice scraper. Consider storing a shovel and a bag of kitty litter in the trunk of vehicles to help with traction. Keep gas tanks full and cell phones charged. Consider packing a warm blanket, a flashlight, a candle and matches and a portable weather radio for long trips.

 Before starting a trip, make sure vehicles are tuned up and in good mechanical shape for travel. This is especially important for winter driving conditions.

 Restrain drivers and passengers properly in seat belts and car safety seats. Remember, the rear seat is the safest place for children of any age to ride.

 Be flexible in setting travel plans. Whenever possible, leave early to avoid the peak traffic hours. If snow is predicted during the time of planned travel, change the schedule. It is better to reschedule a get-together than to risk the lives of traveling family or friends.

 Stay fresh and alert when driving. Take plenty of breaks and don't push to meet an unrealistic schedule. If a driver gets tired, pull off the road into a rest area or business, get out of the car for some fresh air, buy a refreshment, or just relax until feeling revived. Forty-one percent of fatal traffic accidents are single vehicle crashes. These crashes most often occur during the late night and early morning hours and the late afternoon hours to drivers who are tired, have consumed alcohol or both.

 Keep speed down. Give plenty of time and distance to react to the other traffic on the road. Let impatient and aggressive drivers pass or go through the intersection ahead so that a driver is in control of the situation.

 Don't pass if can't see enough clear road to pass safely.

 If there will be drinking at a holiday get-together, choose a designated driver who will remain alcohol free.

 Because driving requires a driver's full attention, pull off the road to use a cell phone. Resist the temptation to text while driving; studies show people are 23 times more likely to have an accident while texting. Plus it's against the law in most states.

Whether hitting the road this winter for work or for pleasure, preparation and knowledge can help keep someone whistling "Let it Snow" instead of fighting frostbite while stuck in a snowdrift.