Winter Safety...

WINTER DRIVING TIPS

DRIVE SMART, DRIVE SAFE

Whether you're going across town or across the country, it's wise to plan your trip carefully. Sometimes a somewhat longer route can be more fuel-efficient and safer than a direct route, especially in winter. Avoiding heavy traffic, steep hills or notoriously bad roads can reduce fuel consumption and the chances of a collision or other mishap. It also means you will be producing fewer emissions of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases that contribute to climate change.

For long-distance trips, use the latest road maps available to plan your route. Keep in mind that travelling on a four-lane highway is generally more fuel-efficient than using a two-lane highway because it is easier to maintain a constant speed. As well, you might want to use bypass roads around major cities.

Perhaps most important in winter conditions, give yourself plenty of time to reach your destination. Aggressive driving not only wastes fuel, it can cause you to loose control of your vehicle even in the best of road conditions.

Protect yourself and your family on the road by practicing defensive driving techniques - in other words, by anticipating what is happening ahead of you on the road and reacting accordingly. Don't race up to stop lights, and leave plenty of room between your vehicle and the one in front to avoid hard braking.

MAINTAINING YOUR VEHICLE

A well-maintained vehicle is a reliable vehicle and reliability is most important in the dead of winter, when a roadside breakdown can cause enormous inconvenience for you and your family and possibly place you in a dangerous situation.

Aside from the potential inconvenience and safety issues, there's another good reason to keep your car in top running condition in winter. Cold weather is hard on a vehicle, making the engine work harder to achieve its maximum operating temperature and move the car down icy, snow-covered roads. The harder the engine works, the more fuel it burns and the more emissions it generates.

A regular fall/winter checkup is an important starting point for your maintenance regime. A qualified technician should check the condition of spark plugs, the air and fuel filters, battery connections, engine belts, tires, brakes, ignition system, cooling system as well as all fluid levels.  

Between scheduled vehicle checkups, you can head-off problems by taking a few minutes once a month to check fluid levels, tire pressure, spark plug wires, battery terminals and radiator hoses and clamps. Have anything that looks suspicious checked by your technician. 

Using a block heater to pre-warm the engine reduces engine wear and cuts fuel consumption.  When an engine starts up, it has to pump oil throughout the block to lubricate moving parts. In a cold engine, the oil is thick and resists flow, which means the engine has to work harder to overcome internal friction. Thick oil also takes longer to circulate.  A block heater can help address this problem by pre-warming the engine's oil and coolant, which in turn warms the engine block and lubricants. As a result, the engine will start easier and reach its peak operating temperature faster.  Don't offset your fuel savings by operating the block heater all night and running up your electricity bill. Two hours is all the time needed to warm the engine. For convenience, an automatic timer can be used to switch on the block heater a couple of hours before you plan to drive the vehicle.

TIRES IN WINTER

Chances are you gave your vehicle's tires a good look before the winter weather set in -  it's almost a Canadian ritual! But when was the last time you checked their pressure?

Correct tire pressure is vital for fuel economy, safe vehicle handling and long tire life. And it's especially important during the winter

That's because cold temperatures cause the air pressure in tires to drop, which adds to the rolling resistance. Each tire that is under-inflated by 2 psi (14 kPa) causes a one percent increase in fuel consumption. Under-inflation can also affect the way a tire grips the road, which can result in handling problems.

For your own safety and to keep your fuel consumption to a minimum, check tire pressure regularly during the winter, especially after there has been a sharp drop in temperature.

Before adding air to your tires, ensure the tire valve is clean. Use your own tire pressure gauge, since the gauges built into air pumps at service stations are often inaccurate or missing.

It's also a good idea to rotate your tires regularly (every 10,000 kilometres or so) to distribute the wear evenly among all four tires. In addition to promoting long tire life, this will help your tires deliver the best possible economy and safety.

FUEL-EFFICIENT WINTER DRIVING

Your personal driving habits have a big impact on fuel consumption and costs, especially in the winter. Here are five steps you can take to keep your fuel costs down and help the environment by reducing greenhouse gas emissions:

Use a block heater to warm your engine for two hours before you start it. Block heaters can improve overall winter fuel economy by as much as 10 percent.

Don't idle your vehicle to warm it up  - it's better to drive it. Any more than 30 seconds of idling on winter days simply wastes fuel and increases emissions.

Check your tire pressure regularly, especially after there has been a sharp drop in temperature (more than 15°C). Cold temperatures decrease the air pressure in tires, which adds to the rolling resistance.

If you use a ski rack, it is a good idea to remove it when it is not needed. A ski rack (even an empty one) increases a vehicle's aerodynamic drag, which in turn causes the engine to work harder and consume more fuel. The same applies to roof racks.

Use public transit whenever possible or try ride-sharing or carpooling. You'll save money on fuel, reduce wear and tear on your vehicle and avoid the stress of driving in bad conditions.

Winter Driving

The leading cause of death during winter storms is transportation accidents. Preparing your vehicle for the winter season and knowing how to react if stranded or lost on the road are the keys to safe winter driving.

BEFORE

Have a mechanic check the following items on your car.

• Battery
• Antifreeze
• Wipers and windshield washer fluid
• Ignition system
• Thermostat
• Lights
• Flashing hazard lights
• Exhaust system
• Heater
• Brakes
• Defroster
• Oil level (if necessary, replace existing oil with a winter grade oil or the SAE 10w/30 weight variety)

Install good winter tires.
Make sure the tires have adequate tread. All-weather radials are usually adequate for most winter conditions. However, some jurisdictions require that to drive on their roads, vehicles must be equipped with chains or snow tires with studs.

Keep a windshield scraper and small broom for ice and snow removal.

Maintain at least a half tank of gas during the winter season.

Plan long trips carefully.
Listen to the radio or call the state highway patrol for the latest road conditions. Always travel during daylight and, if possible, take at least one other person.

If you must go out during a winter storm, use public transportation.

Dress warmly.
Wear layers of loose-fitting, layered, lightweight clothing.

Carry food and water.
Store a supply of high energy "munchies" and several bottles of water.

Contact your local emergency management office or American Red Cross chapter for more information on winter driving.

Winter Car Kit
Keep these items in your car:

• Flashlights with extra batteries
• First aid kit with pocket knife
• Necessary medications
• Several blankets
• Sleeping bags
• Extra newspapers for insulation
• Plastic bags (for sanitation)
• Matches
• Extra set of mittens, socks, and a wool cap
• Rain gear and extra clothes
• Small sack of sand for generating traction under wheels
• Small shovel
• Small tools (pliers, wrench, screwdriver)
• Booster cables
• Set of tire chains or traction mats
• Cards, games, and puzzles
• Brightly colored cloth to use as a flag
• Canned fruit and nuts
• Nonelectric can opener
• Bottled water

DURING

IF TRAPPED IN CAR DURING A BLIZZARD

Stay in the car.
Do not leave the car to search for assistance unless help is visible within 100 yards. You may become disoriented and lost is blowing and drifting snow.

Display a trouble sign.
Hang a brightly colored cloth on the radio antenna and raise the hood.

Occasionally run engine to keep warm.
Turn on the car's engine for about 10 minutes each hour. Run the heater when the car is running. Also, turn on the car's dome light when the car is running.

Beware of carbon monoxide poisoning. Keep the exhaust pipe clear of snow, and open a downwind window slightly for ventilation.

Watch for signs of frostbite and hypothermia.

Do minor exercises to keep up circulation.

Clap hands and move arms and legs occasionally. Try not to stay in one position for too long. If more than one person is in the car, take turns sleeping.

For warmth, huddle together.

Use newspapers, maps, and even the removable car mats for added insulation.

Avoid overexertion.
Cold weather puts an added strain on the heart. Unaccustomed exercise such as shoveling snow or pushing a car can bring on a heart attack or make other medical conditions worse. Be aware of symptoms of dehydration.

Wind Chill
"Wind chill" is a calculation of how cold it feels outside when the effects of temperature and wind speed are combined. A strong wind combined with a temperature of just below freezing can have the same effect as a still air temperature about 35 degrees colder.

Winter Storm Watches and Warnings
A winter storm watch indicates that severe winter weather may affect your area. A winter storm warning indicates that severe winter weather conditions are definitely on the way.

A blizzard warning means that large amounts of falling or blowing snow and sustained winds of at least 35 miles per hour are expected for several hours.

Frostbite and Hypothermia
Frostbite is a severe reaction to cold exposure that can permanently damage its victims. A loss of feeling and a white or pale appearance in fingers, toes, or nose and ear lobes are symptoms of frostbite.

Hypothermia is a condition brought on when the body temperature drops to less than 90 degrees Fahrenheit. Symptoms of hypothermia include uncontrollable shivering, slow speech, memory lapses, frequent stumbling, drowsiness, and exhaustion.

If frostbite or hypothermia is suspected, begin warming the person slowly and seek immediate medical assistance. Warm the person's trunk first. Use your own body heat to help. Arms and legs should be warmed last because stimulation of the limbs can drive cold blood toward the heart and lead to heart failure.

Put person in dry clothing and wrap their entire body in a blanket.

Driving in Snow and Ice

The best advice for driving in bad winter weather is not to drive at all, if you can avoid it. Don't go out until the snow plows and sanding trucks have had a chance to do their work, and allow yourself extra time to reach your destination.

If you must drive in snowy conditions, make sure your car is prepared (get tips for winterizing your car here), and that you know how to handle road conditions. It's helpful to practice winter driving techniques in a snowy, open parking lot, so you're familiar with how your car handles. Consult your owner's manual for tips specific to your vehicle.

Driving safely on icy roads

• Decrease your speed and leave yourself plenty of room to stop. You should allow at least three times more space than usual between you and the car in front of you.
• Brake gently to avoid skidding. If your wheels start to lock up, ease off the brake.
• Turn on your lights to increase your visibility to other motorists.
• Keep your lights and windshield clean.
• Use low gears to keep traction, especially on hills.
• Don't use cruise control or overdrive on icy roads.
• Be especially careful on bridges, overpasses and infrequently traveled roads, which will freeze first. Even at temperatures above freezing, if the conditions are wet, you might encounter ice in shady areas or on exposed roadways like bridges.
• Don't pass snow plows and sanding trucks. The drivers have limited visibility, and you're likely to find the road in front of them worse than the road behind.
• Don't assume your vehicle can handle all conditions. Even four-wheel and front-wheel drive vehicles can encounter trouble on winter roads.

If your rear wheels skid...

• Take your foot off the accelerator.
• Steer in the direction you want the front wheels to go. If your rear wheels are sliding left, steer left. If they're sliding right, steer right.
• If your rear wheels start sliding the other way as you recover, ease the steering wheel toward that side. You might have to steer left and right a few times to get your vehicle completely under control.
• If you have standard brakes, pump them gently.
• If you have anti-lock brakes (ABS), do not pump the brakes. Apply steady pressure to the brakes. You will feel the brakes pulse -- this is normal.

If your front wheels skid...

• Take your foot off the gas and shift to neutral, but don't try to steer immediately.
• As the wheels skid sideways, they will slow the vehicle and traction will return. As it does, steer in the direction you want to go. Then put the transmission in "drive" or release the clutch, and accelerate gently.

If you get stuck...

• Do not spin your wheels. This will only dig you in deeper.
• Turn your wheels from side to side a few times to push snow out of the way.
• Use a light touch on the gas, to ease your car out.
• Use a shovel to clear snow away from the wheels and the underside of the car.
• Pour sand, kitty litter, gravel or salt in the path of the wheels, to help get traction.
• Try rocking the vehicle. (Check your owner's manual first -- it can damage the transmission on some vehicles.) Shift from forward to reverse, and back again. Each time you're in gear, give a light touch on the gas until the vehicle gets going.
• If you are stranded, follow these tips at the bottom of the page you will be directed to.

Sources: National Safety Council, New York State Department of Motor Vehicles, Washington State Government Information & Services