Northwest Iowa — We had a brief taste of winter prior to this week’s unseasonably warm temperatures, but winter is definitely on the way, and with it comes winter driving.
Iowa State Patrol Trooper Kevin Krull says there are things you can do to stay safe on the road this winter. Trooper Krull says don’t neglect your tires.
(As above) “Check your tires. We had that cold spell and sometimes your air pressure fluctuates with the temperatures like that. I know I had a couple of cars at my place that needed some air. It’s always easier to put the air in than to change a tire along the side of the road.”
Krull says you also need to pay attention to road conditions.
(As above) “It’s a good idea to know what the road looks like. Some of that early morning driving especially, when you get going….tap the brakes…just hit the brakes and just see how your car reacts. (It’s) good to know if you’ve got traction, or if you’re going to be sliding through everything. By the same token, accelerate just a little bit and see how it goes. If your car accelerates and you get going down the road, things are great. But if you sit there and spin, you’ll know that the roadway is a little bit slick and extra caution is definitely needed.”
Trooper Krull also reminds you that cleared off windows are important to winter traffic safety.
(As above) “Time to dig those ice scrapers out and maybe get a good one, with a brush, so you can dust off the hood of the car, so that when you get the windshield clean. Sometimes you’ll be driving down the road and you’ve got that snow….that couple inches if we get that, or when we get that, I guess. When you’re going down the road, that can blow back onto your windshield and make you have to use your wipers. So get those ice scrapers. And the key to that is, use it before you leave.”
He also says you should put together a Winter Driving Kit to have in your car, and he tells us about some of the things that should be in it.
(As above) “A metal can with a candle and keep a lighter and some matches both in there. That will help keep the car a little bit warm….be careful not to burn the car up….that’s what the metal can is for. (You should have) a simple first aid kit, a small sharp knife, Some duct tape or gorilla tape, maybe a couple of plastic bags. If you end up with a broken window you can improvise and put some plastic over the window and tape that up. A flashlight’s always nice to have in there. Another thing that’s important to keep in the vehicle is a cell phone charger. Unfortunately, too many people rely on the cell phone and the four-wheel-drive, thinking they can get everywhere. But this is definitely a case where you want to have a cell phone with you so you can call the authorities.”
In addition, Trooper Krull urges you to keep your vehicle’s gas tank above the half-full mark, warm up your car before you leave, and remember that four-wheel-drive doesn’t help you get started or stop on slick roads. Finally, the Trooper suggests you download the Iowa DOT 511 map of road conditions across the state of Iowa. It’s free and available for both iPhone and Android.
