Winter weather is here and winter driving can get slippery and dangerous. EnviroMet encourages you to be prepared for an emergency. One tip is to keep a Beacon Pro LED Flare in your glove box or emergency kit to alert other drivers and emergency vehicles that you need assistance and keep you safe. Following are more tips for safe winter driving.
- Know your route before you leave and give yourself extra time.
- Stay in tune with weather conditions.
- Slow down and know how to recover from a skid.
- Use good tires that are properly inflated.
- Don’t drive when too tired.
- Stay in your vehicle until help comes if you get stuck.
- Turn your lights on so others see you. Put a Flash Flare on your fender.
- Remember bridges and overpasses usually freeze first.
- Don’t pass working county vehicles such as sand trucks and snow plows.
Check to ensure these items are in your vehicle:
- Beacon Pro LED Flares
- High energy food and water
- Cell phone and charger
- A blanket for each person in the vehicle
- Working flashlight with extra batteries
- Can of lock de-icer (never use water as it could freeze and create a bigger problem)
- First aid kit and necessary medications
- Jumper cables
- Tow chain or rope and tire chains
- A bag of kitty litter is ideal as a traction aid
- Ice scraper and brush
Check out http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/winter/ for more winter driving and safety tips.