North Carolina Winter Weather Preparedness Week runs from November 29 through December 5. Topic 4 is winter weather driving safety. The following National Weather Service statement has been only slightly modified by me:
75% OF ALL WINTER WEATHER RELATED DEATHS OCCUR ON THE ROAD - EITHER IN ACCIDENTS OR BY PEOPLE BECOMING STRANDED. OBVIOUSLY, WHEN THE WEATHER IS BAD AND DRIVING CONDITIONS ARE POOR, YOUR SAFEST BET IS TO STAY AT HOME. HOWEVER, IF YOUR MUST VENTURE OUT, THE FOLLOWING TIPS COULD MAKE FOR A SAFER JOURNEY:
1) ***MAKE SURE YOUR CAR IS IN GOOD RUNNING CONDITION*** MAKE SURE THAT YOUR BATTERY, ANTIFREEZE, WINDSHIELD WIPERS, IGNITION AND THERMOSTAT ARE ALL IN GOOD WORKING ORDER. BE SURE YOUR TIRES HAVE ENOUGH TREAD. REPLACE ANY OF THESE ITEMS IF NECESSARY.
2) IF YOU MUST GO OUT WHEN SNOW AND ICE ARE ON THE GROUND, LET SOMEONE KNOW YOUR DESTINATION AND WHEN YOU PLAN TO ARRIVE. ALSO, CARRY A CELL PHONE IF POSSIBLE.
3) CLEAN SNOW AND ICE OFF ALL PARTS OF YOUR CAR BEFORE YOU DRIVE AWAY.
4) KEEP YOUR GAS TANK AS FULL AS POSSIBLE. THIS WILL NOT ONLY GIVE YOU ADDED PEACE OF MIND, IT ALSO INCREASES THE WEIGHT OF YOUR CAR AND THIS WILL PROVIDE ADDITIONAL TRACKING.
5) KEEP THE FOLLOWING BASIC ITEMS IN YOUR CAR: WINDSHIELD SCRAPER AND BRUSH, BOOSTER/JUMPER CABLES, A TOW CHAIN OR ROPE, BAG OF SAND OR SALT, BLANKETS, FLASHLIGHT, FIRST AID KIT AND ROAD MAP.
6) DRIVE SLOW. DRIVING AT EVEN POSTED SPEEDS IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS WHEN SNOW AND ICE ARE ON THE ROAD. MANY VEHICLES WILL LOSE TRACTION ESPECIALLY AT HIGHER SPPEDS RESUTING IN SERIOUS ACCIDENT AND VERHILE ROLL-OVERS.
7) STEER YOU CAR INTO ANY SKID. IF YOUR VEHICLE LOSES TRACTION AND BEGINS TO SKID, STEER THE FRONT TIRES INTO THE DIRECTION OF THE SKID. NEVER HIT YOUR BRAKESAS THIS WILL RESULT IN A MORE SERIOUS SKID AND SPINNING OF THE VEHICLE. WHEN YOUR VEHICLE SKIDS KEEP YOUR COOL AND REMAIN CALM. AGAIN, DRIVING AT SLOWER SPEEDS WILL HELP YOU RECOVER FROM A SKID!
8) IF YOU GET STRANDED ON THE ROAD, STAY IN YOUR CAR! DO NOT SEEK ALTERNATE SHELTER OR A TELEPHONE UNLESS THEY ARE CLOSE BY OR ALREADY VISIBLE. YOU CAN EASILY BECOME DISORIENTED IN HEAVY SNOW AND COLD TEMPERATURES. CARRY A CELL PHONE WITH YOU WHEN YOU TRAVEL IF POSSIBLE.
9) IF YOU GET STRANDED ON THE ROAD,PERIODICALLY TURN ON THE CAR ENGINE FOR BRIEF PERIODS. THIS WILL HELP PROVIDE HEAT TO THE INSIDE OF THE CAR. HOWEVER, TO AVOID CARBON MONOXIDE GAS BUILDUP, CLEAR THE EXHAUST PIPE OF SNOW AND LEAVE A DOWNWIND WINDOW SLIGHTLY OPEN FOR VENTILATION.
10) IF YOU GET STRANDED ON THE ROAD, MAKE YOURSELF VISIBLE BY TYING A COLORED CLOTH TO YOUR ANTENNA OR DOOR, OR BY TURNING ON YOUR DOME LIGHT WHEN RUNNING
THE ENGINE.
For updated forecasts for eastern North Carolina, visit the wnct.com Storm Team 9 weather page.
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