Crawford County Memorial Hospital recently issued the following announcement.
Regardless of the recent stretch of warmer weather, and a lack of snow on the ground, the first day of winter is now less than three weeks away! As we all know, winter in Iowa can come quickly and hang around for a while. Being a safe driver in winter weather is a good thing!
Cold Weather Driving Tips
- Keep a bundle of winter weather gear in your car, such as extra food and water, warm clothing, a flashlight, a glass scraper, blankets, medications, and more.
- Make certain your tires are properly inflated and have plenty of tread.
- Keep at least half a tank of fuel in your vehicle at all times.
- Never warm up a vehicle in an enclosed area, such as a garage. This can cause carbon monoxide poisoning.
- Do not use cruise control when driving on any slippery surface, such as on ice and snow.
- For electric and hybrid-electric vehicles, decrease the drain on the battery. In general, lithium ion batteries have reduced energy at lower temperatures. The battery drain due to heating can be minimized by keeping your electric vehicle as warm as possible during freezing temperatures.
- If the weather is truly terrible, stay home. It’s better to avoid taking unnecessary risks than venturing out.
- Drive slowly. Adjust your speed down to account for less traction when driving on snow or ice.
- Accelerate and decelerate slowly. Apply the gas slowly to regain traction and avoid skids.
- Increase your following distance of other vehicles just in case you have to stop unexpectedly.
- Don’t stop going up a hill. There’s nothing worse than trying to get moving up a hill on an icy road. Get some inertia going on a flat roadway before you take on the hill.
- Don’t crowd a snowplow or travel beside the truck.
- If you are stopped or stalled in wintry weather, stay focused on yourself and your passengers, your car, and your surroundings.
- Stay with your car and don’t overexert yourself.
- Let your car be seen. Put bright markers on the antenna or windows and keep the interior dome light on.
- Be mindful of carbon monoxide poisoning. Make sure your exhaust pipe is clear of any snow and run your car only sporadically — just long enough to stay warm.
Think ahead when planning a winter trip. Make sure to check the forecast regularly to stay ahead of the weather. When in doubt – sit it out. Stay home rather than putting yourself or someone else at risk. Most of all, have a safe and happy winter driving season!
Original source can be found here.
Alerts Sign-up