- Image by sgtgary via Flickr
by Sue Shekut, Licensed Massage Therapist, ACSM Personal Trainer, Certified Wellness Coach, Owner, Working Well Massage
Good health is not just about fitness and nutrition. We all make choices each day that impact our well being, our long term health and ultimately our happiness. On Christmas day I spent a wonderful time with my family and a not so wonderful time driving on the Chicago area highways traveling from one celebration to another. I am extremely grateful that I was able to spend time with the people I care about, but driving on ice and snow makes me extra nervous–and extra cautious.
In the Chicago area, driving, either to work or to school or to the store, is an everyday occurance. It’s tough to get away from traffic and other drivers. Aside from the stress of driving in congested traffic, each time you get behind the wheel you must make many choices that impact your health directly. For example, wearing your safety belt, we all know, can save your life. So can taking your time and yielding to other drivers. The car is not the place to take out your aggression, have a power struggle or show off. Driving in snowy and icy conditions requires a clear head and a steady hand. But there are many other considerations. Follow the Safe Driving Tips from the Department of Occupational Health and Safety to make sure your winter drives keep you and your family safe and sound.
Tips for Winter Driving
The Three P’s of Safe Winter Driving
• PREPARE for the trip
• PROTECT yourself; and
• PREVENT crashes on the road
Prepare for the Trip
Maintain Your Car
• Check battery, tire tread, and windshield wipers
• Keep your windows clear
• Put no-freeze fluid in the washer reservoir
• Check your antifreeze levels and make sure your radiator is properly filled
Equipment to Have On Hand
• Flashlight
• Jumper cables
• Abrasive material (sand, kitty litter, even floor mats)
• Shovel
• Snow brush and ice scraper
• Flares or other warning devices
• Blanket and extra warm clothes
• Cell phone
• For long trips, add food and water and any medication you may need if stranded
What to Do if You Are Stopped or Stalled?
• Stay with your car
• Don’t over exert
• Put bright markers on antenna or windows and shine dome light
• If you run your car, clear exhaust pipe and run it just enough to stay warm
Plan Your Route
• Allow plenty of time (check the weather and leave early if necessary)
• Be familiar with the maps/directions/GPS
• Let others know your route and arrival time
Practice Cold Weather Driving!
• During daylight, rehearse maneuvers slowly on the ice or snow in an empty lot
• Steer into a skid
• Know what your brakes will do: stomp onantilock brakes, pump non-antilock brakes
• Stopping distances are longer on water-covered ice and ice
• Don’t idle for a long time with the windows up or in an enclosed space
Protect Yourself and Your Passaengers
• Buckle up and use child safety seats properly
• Never place a rear-facing infant seat in front of an air bag
• Children 12 and under are much safer in the back seat
Prevent Crashes
• Drugs and alcohol never mix with driving
• Slow down and increase distances between cars
• Keep your eyes open for pedestrians walking in the road
•Avoid fatigue – Get plenty of rest before the trip, stop at least every three hours, and rotate drivers if possible
Planning a road trip through snow and ice?
Read more road-tested tips from professional driving instructor Bob Schaller to help keep you safe, warm, and on track. RTA’s Road Food Guru Dennis Weaver also tells how to stay hydrated and nourished in cold weather.
Read Schaller’s tips <a title=”Road trip America” href=”http://www.roadtripamerica.com/travelplanning/Winter-Driving.htm” at RoadTripAmerica here.
Who is Bob Schaller and Why Should I Listen to His Tip
“I live for road trips” could be Bob Schaller‘s mantra. His love for exploring began at the age of three when he explored his neighborhood by tricycle. Following a stint in the US military, Bob was a long-haul truck driver, a commercial pilot, an industrial supply salesman, a college student, and a civil servant working in Arizona’s judicial branch for thirteen years. A recognized expert in Arizona traffic law, Bob teaches defensive driving classes all over the state and is author of the online defensive driving manual Drive Safe with Uncle Bob. His wanderlust remains as hearty as ever, and he is an occasional contributor to the Great American RoadTrip Forum.
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Working Well Resources' Blog 
This is a nice article. Here are few more tips to add.
* Make sure you washer fluid is topped off. During and following a snow fall, washer fluid is needed to remove slush which often gets kicked up on your windshield. Without washer fluid, this condition can dangerously prevent you from seeing the road.
* Make sure you wiper blades work properly. Old wiper blades will not clear your windshield fully. Replace old blades.
* Slow down. Often traveling at or less than the speed limit can be dangerous in wet, snowy or icy conditions. Indeed, a police officer can issue you a 3-point speeding ticket for “speed unreasonably prudent” when a motorist drives too fast given the road and weather conditions (even if you are obeying the speed limit). Trying to stop can be challenging too in snowy or icy conditions so slowing down will ensure that you stop where you intend rather than overshooting your target.
* Don’t follow too closely. Tailgating is always dangerous but it is even worse when road conditions are wet, icy or snowy. Following too closely is a moving violation and is particularly dangerous in challenging weather conditions. The general rule of allowing one car length for every 10 mph that you are proceeding (ex., maintain 5 car lengths between your car and the one in front of you when traveling at 50 mph) should be doubled in wet, snowy or icy conditions.
* Pump your brakes. Slamming on your brakes in snow and/or ice can cause you to skid or fishtail. If you do skid, turn your wheel in the direction of the skid and gently press your brakes. Of course, if you have anti-lock brakes, your car will do the pumping automatically.
* Watch bridges and overpasses. Bridges and overpasses freeze quicker than roadways because air circulates both above and below the surface of the elevated roadway causing the pavement temperature to drop more rapidly. Adding to this hazard is a phenomenon called “black ice“, a transparent and thin coating of glazed ice that forms on roadway surfaces. Black ice is treacherous because it is near-impossible for motorist to detect. Drivers should therefore be especially careful crossing bridges and overpasses when the temperature drops (even if above freezing).
Well done. I’m a learner driver myself.
My favorite tip would be to add an extra charger for that cell phone. As long as you have a charged car battery you will also be guaranteed to have a fully charged cell phone to use in an emergency. You can even find solar powered chargers, but I’m not sure how much sun there will be during the some of the harshest winder storms.
Avoid Lane Changes When Possible –
We all want to make it to our destination as soon as possible, especially when the sky has turned nasty. A lot of us are guilty of shifting in and out of traffic, making unsafe lane changes to find the one that is moving the quickest, but this can be a hazard when the roads are icy, snowy, or slick. Pick one lane for as long as you can and go with the flow of traffic.