 We Americans certainly depend heavily on our automobiles for pretty much everything we do. With this dependence comes some complacency or I should say a level of comfort that we get ourselves into when it comes to safety in our beloved vehicles. There are obvious things that most of us are more than likely prepared for such as dead batteries or a flat tire. And then there are those situations that will catch us off guard such as the crime of a car jacking or the theft of our vehicle or it’s contents. In this article we will be discussing tips and techniques for your winter driving safety as old man winter begins to tighten his grasp.
There are certain items you should ALWAYS have with you in your vehicle for winter driving emergencies such as jumper cables, lock de-ice, first aid kit, flashlight, road flares or emergency markers, shovel, sand, a plastic bag with toilet paper, extra cell phone battery or a pre-paid phone card, ice scraper, tire chains or cables, air compressor (just in case you forgot to check your spare tire), a bag with some winter clothing, a blanket, some water, washer fluid, coolant, tools, maybe some energy bars or other food stuffs, etc. I know it’s a big list but by having a few of these simple everyday items you can make a roadside emergency bearable. There many roadside emergency kits on the market today you can buy that have most of the items listed above and sometimes a lot more. These kits will run from $25.00 to over $100.00 in some cases and as anybody who has ever needed help in the middle of a snowstorm will tell you it’s a small price to pay for some piece of mind. Personally I have always found that it is better to have it and not need it, than to need it and not have it. You may have to do some searching for some of these kits but a little work can go a long way. There is one item I particularly like called a jump and pump that is a self-contained battery pack with jumper cables, 12-volt outlet, air compressor and light that sells for less than $100.00 at www.autosafetyproductsonline.com. This product will allow you to jump-start your car without the need of another vehicle, charge your cell phone or fill a flat tire. They also have other auto safety items that you will find useful for winter driving. You can also do a search for “roadside emergency kit” online and it will return a plethora choices for you. I recommend picking a kit that will adapt easily to the available space you have in your car and the amount and distance of winter driving you will be planning on doing. Also if you follow these simple tips below you will find your winter driving will not only be safer but an emergency will not be as traumatic as it could be. • Make sure someone knows where your going and approximately what time you should arrive.
• Stay on main roads and take the most direct route. Even though it is pretty outside winter is not the time to be exploring new roads.
• Make sure your cell phone is fully charged or bring your car adapter.
• If you must stop, remain inside your vehicle as much as possible and use a bright distress flag or hazard lights to draw attention to your vehicle. Stay with your vehicle! DO NOT WANDER OFF.
• Ladies if you are traveling alone or even with friends and are stranded DO NOT get into another vehicle where you do not know the occupants.
• If you are trapped in a blizzard run your engine and heater for only 10 minutes every hour. Do not forget to open your windows slightly and in the event of a lot of snow accumulation clear the tailpipe of your vehicle.
• During night hours, keep the dome light on or your emergency flashers so rescue crews or those looking for you will easily spot you.
• Keep an emergency kit in your vehicle. By employing a little prevention you can make your winter driving safe and enjoyable. One more resource for winter safety is the Washington State Department of Health’s Disaster Preparedness Handbook which you can download from their website www.doh.wa.gov. Have a safe an enjoyable winter driving experience.
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