Winter Driving Safety Fact Sheet
Additional Winter Driving Safety Information from The Federal Citizen Information Center
The leading cause of death during winter storms is transportation accidents. Preparing your vehicle for the winter
season and knowing how to react if stranded or lost on the road are the keys to safe winter driving.
BEFORE:
Have a mechanic check the following items on your car:
Battery
Antifreeze
Wipers and windshield washer fluid
Ignition system
Thermostat
Lights
Flashing hazard lights
Exhaust system
Heater
Brakes
Defroster
Oil level (if necessary, replace existing oil with a winter grade oil or the SAE 5w/40 weight variety)
Install good winter tires:
Make sure the tires have adequate tread. All-weather radials are usually adequate for most winter conditions. However,
some jurisdictions require that to drive on their roads, vehicles must be equipped with chains or snow tires with studs.
Keep a windshield scraper and small broom for ice and snow removal.
Maintain at least a half tank of gas during the winter season.
Plan long trips carefully:
Listen to the radio or call the state highway patrol for the latest road conditions. Always travel during daylight and,
if possible, take at least one other person. If you must go out during a winter storm, use public transportation.
Dress warmly:
Wear layered of loose-fitting, layered, lightweight clothing.
Carry food and water:
Store a supply of high energy "munchies" and several bottles of water.
Contact your local emergency management office or American Red Cross chapter for more information on winter driving.
Winter Car Kit:
Keep these items in your car:
Flashlights with extra batteries
First aid kit with pocket knife
Necessary medications
Several blankets
Sleeping bags
Extra newspapers for insulation
Plastic bags (for sanitation)
Matches
Extra set of mittens, socks, and a wool cap
Rain gear and extra clothes
Small sack of sand for generating traction under wheels
Small shovel
Small tools (pliers, wrench, screwdriver)
Booster cablesSet of tire chains or traction mats
Cards, games, and puzzles
Brightly colored cloth to use as a flag
Canned fruit and nuts
Nonelectric can opener
Bottled water
DURING:
IF TRAPPED IN CAR DURING A BLIZZARD:
Stay in the car. Do not leave the car to search for assistance unless help is visible within 100 yards. You may become
disoriented and lost is blowing and drifting snow.
Display a trouble sign. Hang a brightly colored cloth on the radio antenna and raise the hood.
Occasionally run engine to keep warm. Turn on the car's engine for about 10 minutes each hour. Run the heater when the
car is running. Also, turn on the car's dome light when the car is running.
Beware of carbon monoxide poisoning. Keep the exhaust pipe clear of snow, and open a downwind window slightly for ventilation.
Watch for signs of frostbite and hypothermia.
Do minor exercises to keep up circulation.
Clap hands and move arms and legs occasionally. Try not to stay in one position for too long. If more than one person is in the car, take turns sleeping.
For warmth, huddle together.
Use newspapers, maps, and even the removable car mats for added insulation.
Avoid overexertion. Cold weather puts an added strain on the heart. Unaccustomed exercise such as shoveling snow or
pushing a car can bring on a heart attack or make other medical conditions worse. Be aware of symptoms of dehydration.
Wind Chill:
"Wind chill" is a calculation of how cold it feels outside when the effects of temperature and wind speed are combined.
A strong wind combined with a temperature of just below freezing can have the same effect as a still air temperature
about 35 degrees colder.
Winter Storm Watches and Warnings:
A winter storm watch indicates that severe winter weather may affect your area. A winter storm warning indicates that
severe winter weather conditions are definitely on the way.
A blizzard warning means that large amounts of falling or blowing snow and sustained winds of at least 35 miles per
hour are expected for several hours.
Frostbite and Hypothermia:
Frostbite is a severe reaction to cold exposure that can permanently damage its victims. A loss of feeling and a white
or pale appearance in fingers, toes, or nose and ear lobes are symptoms of frostbite.
Hypothermia is a condition brought on when the body temperature drops to less than 55 degrees Fahrenheit. Symptoms of
hypothermia include uncontrollable shivering, slow speech, memory lapses, frequent stumbling, drowsiness, and exhaustion.
If frostbite or hypothermia is suspected, begin warming the person slowly and seek immediate medical assistance. Warm
the person's trunk first. Use your won body heat to help. Arms and legs should be warmed last because stimulation of
the limbs can drive cold blood toward the heart and lead to heart failure.
Put person in dry clothing and wrap their entire body in a blanket.
Never give a frostbite or hypothermia victim something with caffeine in it (like coffee or tea) or alcohol. Caffeine,
a stimulant, can cause the heart to beat faster and hasten the effects the cold has on the body. Alcohol, a depressant,
can slow the heart and also hasten the ill effects of cold body temperatures.
