Heed the Chief’s advice
This year, our daytime temperatures fell from 90 degrees to 60 degrees seemingly overnight. With similar suddenness, we are now experiencing temperatures below freezing and facing the threat of accompanying snowfall. It’s assured that slick driving conditions will arrive and that many motorists will have trouble dealing with them.
I just received a media release from Washington State Patrol’s Chief John R. Batiste reminding drivers to be prepared for these upcoming winter driving conditions that have already caused problems on area roadways. His message is buoyed by driver difficulties and accident statistics witnessed and compiled by a network of Troopers who log many miles on affected roadways 24 hours per day, seven days a week, during every winter.
The following are a few tips compiled by the Washington State Patrol to help drivers get in the winter driving mode. These worthy points bear repetition — while experienced drivers can benefit from reminders, there’s an emerging batch of new drivers every year.
- Prepare your vehicle before you leave. Make sure you clear off your windows and lights so that they are visible. Also make sure you clear off the hood of your vehicle and roof so the snow does not slide and obstruct your view once you are on the road.
- While the speed limit signs are posted, they are set for dry pavement. During bad weather, people need to slow down and take extra precautions. Pay attention and make sure to leave plenty of room for stopping.
- Don’t use your cruise control in wintry conditions. Even roads that appear clear can have sudden slippery spots and the short touch of your brakes to deactivate the cruise control feature can cause you to lose control of your vehicle.
- Don’t get overconfident in your 4x4 vehicle. Remember that your 4x4 vehicle may help you get going quicker than other vehicles but it won’t help you stop any faster. Many 4x4 vehicles are heavier than passenger vehicles and actually may take longer to stop. Don’t get overconfident with your 4x4 vehicle’s traction. Your 4x4 can lose traction as quickly as a two-wheel drive vehicle.
- Make sure that you provide extra time to get to where you are going, especially in cold, snowy, icy conditions.
- Make sure that you are prepared for bad weather. Stock your car with basic winter driving equipment: a scraper and brush, small shovel, jumper cables, tow chain and a bag of sand or cat litter for tire traction. Include road flares, a blanket, heavy boots, warm clothing, and a flashlight with batteries.
- Check out road conditions at Washington State Department of Transportation’s website: www.wsdot.wa.gov/traffic or by calling the toll free telephone line at 1-800-695-ROAD or 1-206-DOT-HIWY or 511**. WSDOT provides real-time traffic information and camera images at major mountain passes and locations throughout the state.
Additionally, be in shape to drive. That means being well-rested, alert and ready to instill an extra margin of safety for adverse conditions. Stay relaxed and avoid a tightly-clenched grip on the steering wheel. That viselike grip will not improve your ability to control the car, but will add to your tension/stress level. Make gentle inputs to steering, brakes and accelerator pedal (both pressing and lifting), especially when driving on ice.
When travelling over mountain passes, carry tire chains in case you encounter the requirement. In Washington, all-wheel or 4-wheel drive vehicles are exempt from installing chains when “required” if they have M + S rated tires with at least 4/32nds inches of tread depth. In an odd twist, per the DOT website, the installation exemption for those vehicles is only official if “tire chains for at least one set of drive tires are carried in the vehicle.”
Prepared drivers with prepared vehicles improve their chances of coping with the challenges of winter. Don’t be caught by surprise this season when your first encounter with black ice or snow occurs. Be ready to accommodate those hazards, along with added hours of rain and darkness, with proper equipment and state of mind.
Readers may contact Bill Love via e-mail at precisiondriving@spokesman.com.
