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As winter approaches, driving safety moves to forefront

  • Published
  • By Tyler Hemstreet
  • Staff writer
MCCHORD AIR FORCE BASE, Wash. --  With snow in the forecast for this week, Team McChord leaders are advising Airmen to conduct a few simple checks on their vehicles and keep some safety tips in mind to ensure they are prepared to navigate snowy or icy roads.

Winter conditions -- wet, cold and icy weather -- present the greatest challenge to each vehicle's operating efficiency, according to the American Automobile Association.

Ensuring the car tires are properly inflated and in good condition is key to maintaining the best traction in the snow, according to AAA. During extreme snow and ice driving conditions, tire chains can provide the best traction. When chains are necessary, they should be on all four tires.

When it comes to visibility, Airmen need to take the time to fully scrape the windshield before departing, said Ken Heath, 62nd Airlift Wing chief of ground safety.

"Also, wiper blades that streak the windshield should be replaced," Mr. Heath said. "To prevent damage to the blades or the wiper motor, Airmen should also make sure the wipers are free of ice and snow and turned off before starting the engine."

The washer reservoir bottle should also be filled with an antifreeze washer solvent.

AAA also recommends preparing a winter car kit which includes a snow brush with a scraper, a flashlight with batteries, a blanket, mittens and a hat, a small shovel, a sack of sand or kitty litter, jumper cables, hazard flares and windshield washer fluid.

When it comes to navigating winter roads, maintaining the same schedule may require adding more time to the commute, Mr. Heath said.

"One of the most common things we see is people following too closely for what the conditions allow oftentimes because they are in a hurry," he said.

"People just need to allow more time to get to work because everyone on the road is going to be driving slower."

Normal following distances for dry pavement (three to four seconds) should be increased to eight to 10 seconds when driving on icy, slippery surfaces, according to AAA.