NEWS for North Dakotans
Agriculture Communication, North Dakota State University
7 Morrill Hall, Fargo, ND 58105-5665

November 24, 1999

Safe Winter Travel Requires Planning

With changing weather and some isolated roads, winter travel in the upper Midwest can be dangerous. Preparation and planning can help cut the risk, says a safety specialist at North Dakota State University.

"Experienced drivers change their driving habits when venturing out on the roadways during the winter months. Their travel plans are considerably different in winter months than during the warmer months of the year," says George Maher of the NDSU Extension Service.

Travelers should pay close attention to weather forecasts, Maher advises. "Listening to radio weather reports can help alert you to weather changes and how they may affect your travel plans. Dangerous weather systems can develop quickly."

Maher advises travelers to make a schedule and leave it with someone who will take action if they don't show up as anticipated. If plans change, keep those contacts informed, and call them after arriving.

"Always keep your vehicle in good, safe condition," Maher says. "There must be sufficient fuel, a good battery, clear windows and heat." He offers the following additional safety tips for winter travel.

• Keep the fuel tank at least three-fourths full to prevent water buildup from condensation. Never leave town without a full fuel tank.
• Use a lighter-weight oil in winter for easier starting. Follow your vehicle warranty.
• Make sure your engine's belts are in good condition and carry a spare.
• Keep good tires on the vehicle to provide better starts and stops and more responsive steering. Snow tires provide better traction than regular-tread tires. Keep tires properly inflated.
• Add weight for added traction, but do so with care; there is no advantage in adding weight to the rear of a front wheel drive car, and it will adversely affects its handling. Adding too much weight can affect the handling of any vehicle. Unsecured weight can be dangerous.
• Use extreme care when using candle and wick heaters for additional heat when stranded in a stalled or stuck vehicle. Most cars and pickups are upholstered with plastic materials that burn furiously.
• Carbon monoxide poisoning is a danger when using combustion sources for additional heat. Partially open a window on each side of the vehicle to provide flow-through ventilation.
• Always stay with your vehicle even if it won't start. Not many people walk away from a stranded vehicle and survive.
• When using the vehicle engine and heater for heat, use them sparingly. The engine should be operated often enough so it will start easily but not so often that you run down the battery.
• Use as few accessories as possible. Use parking lights instead of headlights except to alert the driver of an approaching vehicle.
• Keep water and food in the car. High-energy food is good, but water is more important. A thermos or two of coffee would be welcome. Consume it slowly so that it lasts. Alcoholic beverages distort judgment.
• If more than one person is stranded in the vehicle, be sure that only one sleeps at a time.

For additional information, refer to "Stalled . . . But Safe," an extension publication on safe winter survival tips. Also, "Have A Safe Trip" provides a checklist with many good reminders of how to prepare for winter travel in the upper Midwest, as well as weather-related telephone numbers. Contact your county extension agent to obtain these publications. Or, check this web site (http://www.ext.nodak.edu/extpubs/safety.htm) for additional information.

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Source: George Maher (701) 231-8288
Editor: Tom Jirik (701) 231-9629