Submitted by: agcomm,  Wed Nov 26 10:13:38 1997


                        November 26, 1997
 
Safe Winter Travel Requires Planning
 
Graphic accompanies this story in hard copy and is available on
the World Wide Web at
http://www.ext.nodak.edu/extnews/newsrelease/graphics/saftravl.gi
f
 
     Isolated roads, wind, snow and bitter cold can combine to
make winter travel dangerous.  But you can take some steps to
reduce the risk, according to a safety specialist at North Dakota
State University.
     "Experienced drivers change their driving habits and plan
differently for travel in the winter," explains George Maher of
the NDSU Extension Service.
     A key is information and planning. Pay attention to weather
forecasts and if weather is threatening, question whether the
trip is really necessary.
     "If conditions get bad, travel may become life threatening,"
Maher notes.  "Stop to consider if your travel plans are really
worth risking your life or the lives of your family."
     When you travel, make a schedule and plan a route.  Then
share it with friends and family who can take action if you don't
show up when and where you're supposed to, he says.  If you
change plans along the way, keep your contacts informed.
     Keep your vehicle in top condition, so it's ready for winter
conditions, Maher says.  Keep the fuel tank full. Make sure the
battery is in good condition.  Clear snow and ice off the hood,
roof, lights and windows so you can see.  And make sure your
heater works.  A tune-up may improve starting and fuel
efficiency.
     Maher reminds that keeping the fuel tank at least three-
fourths full reduces water buildup from condensation.  Ethanol
gasoline or gasoline deicer will prevent gas line freeze-ups.
Consult your service technician about using lighter weight oil in
the winter to provide easier starts and better lubrication.      
Make sure your belts and hoses are in good condition and carry
spares if necessary.
     Good tires provide better stops and starts and improved
control of the vehicle.  Your vehicle will have its best traction
if tires are properly inflated.  Consider snow tires for added
traction.
     You can add weight to your vehicle to improve traction, but
do so with care and after consulting the owner's manual, Maher
advises.  Adding weight to the rear of a front wheel drive car
adversely affects its handling.  Adding weight to the back of a
rear wheel drive car usually improves traction.
     Despite the best laid plans, mishaps happen.  If you become
stalled, stuck or stranded, good preparation will keep you safe
until conditions improve or help arrives.  Maher offers these
tips:
  * Candle and wick heaters can provide heat in a stalled car,    
    but they should be used with extreme care. Most vehicles are  
    upholstered with plastic materials that burn furiously.       
               
  * Carbon monoxide poisoning is a major problem if you use       
    combustion sources as supplemental heat sources.  Make sure   
    your car is well ventilated by partially opening a window on  
    each side of the vehicle
               
  * Don't run the engine and use the heater if your vehicle has   
    gone off the road and is resting at a steep angle.            
   
  * Bundle up and stay with your vehicle.  Swirling snow can      
    disorient you and extreme cold can sap your strength and      
    cause hypothermia, a possibly fatal condition that reduces    
    body heat.
               
  * When using the vehicle engine and heater for heat, use them   
    sparingly to conserve fuel.  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 of your vehicle's accessories as possible.         
     Headlights use a lot of electricity, so use the parking      
     lights instead warn approaching drivers.  Use your
     headlights only to signal passing vehicles.
               
  * Bring survival food and drinking water.  Consider bringing    
    a thermos or two of coffee on winter trips. Consume your      
    supplies slowly to make them last.
               
  * If more than one person is stranded in the vehicle, only      
    one should sleep at a time.
     
     For additional information, refer to a new extension
publication titled "Have A Safe Trip."  It is a series of
checklists that will help you prepare for winter travel in the
upper Midwest.  The publication also includes many regional road
condition and weather phone numbers. Contact your county office
of the NDSU Extension Service for a copy.
                              ###
NDSU Agriculture Communication
Source: George Maher (701) 231-8288
Editor: Tom Jirik (701) 231-9629