TAKING A WINTER DRIVE

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TAKING A WINTER DRIVE
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Winterize Your Car

• Wipers - Good working order
• Windshield Washer Fluid - Fill up, add
  anti-freeze
  
• Battery Belts - Check condition
• Tires Suitable for weather conditions (Winter
  or at least MS Tires) Check treads (min. 4mm
  recommended), pressure and owners manual
  recommendations
• Ice Scraper - A necessity

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Pack Your Winter Car Kit

• Snow brush w/ scraper
• Flashlight w/ batteries
• Blanket
• Jumper cables

• Special items for traveling to remote snow areas
• Mittens, socks hat
• Small shovel
• Sack of sand or kitty litter
• Snow chains
• ....

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Risk Management Driving Decisions

• Is my car equipped for the weather ?
• Can I make this trip later ?
• Are there alternatives to driving (public
  transportation) ?
  
• What would be the safest route ?
• Am I prepared for emergencies ?
• Observe weather forecast and radio traffic
  announcements

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Road Conditions (Applies to Government Vehicles)
Green Ideal conditions, unrestricted vehicle
dispatches. Amber Ideal conditions do not exist
vehicle dispatches may be authorized by unit
commanders (CPT and above), directors and primary
staff. Red Mission-essential and emergency vehic
les only, dispatches authorized by
Garrison/Bn-Level commanders or DPW (emergency
support / snow ice removal). Risk assessment
required. Black Emergency vehicles only, dispatc
hes authorized by Garrison/Bde-Level commanders
or DES/DPW. Risk assessment required.
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Clean-off And Warm-up
1. Clean off vehicle completely!

• Clean all lights
• Scrape all windows and mirrors
• Sweep all the snow off the vehicle (to include
  hood, trunk and roof)

Good all around visibility is important !
2. Do NOT idle the engine for warming it up !

• Idling the cold engine is a reliable way to ruin
  it.
  
• Under German law, it is considered illegal
  unnecessary use of the engine (noise and
  emissions), subject to fines.
  
• Start the engine and drive off immediately. Do
  not race. Modest load is the best way to warm up
  the engine.

Remember, BEING IN A HURRY WILL RESULT IN
ACCIDENTS DOWN THE ROAD!
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Driving Techniques

• Adjust your SPEED to road conditions. If
  necessary, reduce speed so you can stop quicker.
  
• Avoid sudden changes in speed or direction.
• Give turn signals sooner than usual. This gives
  other drivers more time to react.
  
• Pump your brakes to warn of your intention to
  stop.
  
• Increase the DISTANCE from the vehicle ahead.
  This gives you extra time and space to react.

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Driving Techniques
To make an emergency stop on a slippery road
Regular Brakes Pump the Brake Peda
l.
Anti-lock Brakes (ABS) Press down and hold. The
ABS will pump for you.
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Black Ice
DANGEROUS BECAUSE YOU CANT SEE IT!
Common areas where you find it
1. Bridges/Overpasses/Underpasses
2. Shaded areas (e.g forests)
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FRESH SNOW CAN CONCEAL ICY ROADS
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Skids
Result from unexpected forces
1. Black Ice 2. Driving too fast for conditi
ons 3. Sudden steering corrections or braking
4. Sudden accelerations
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Skids (Cont.)

• If your vehicle begins to skid
• DO NOT PANIC !
• Make no sudden changes in speed or direction !
• Do the following
• Ease off the accelerator
• Front end skids - Release the brake and let the
  front wheels roll freely to regain traction and
  steering control.
  
• Rear end skids - Take foot off of accelerator
  and turn wheels in the direction that the rear of
  the vehicle is skidding, and pump brakes lightly.

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KEY DRIVING TIPS

• ALLOW MORE TIME TO TRAVEL
• MAINTAIN MORE SPACE
• DRIVE WITH YOUR LIGHTS ON
• WEAR SAFETY BELTS
• LOOK WELL AHEAD
• ANTICIPATE PROBLEMS

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FOG
FOG
When driving in fog, use low-beam headlights, or
STOP, GET OFF THE ROADWAY, AND WAIT!!
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FOG
FOG

• Use lane markings and road posts for
  orientation....and not the tail lights of the car
  in front of you !
  
• Use the rear fog light only if visibility is less
  than 50m. Otherwise, you will blind the driver
  behind you !

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Carbon Monoxide Poisoning
Each year 1,500 people are killed in the U.S. by
carbon monoxide, approximately 900 of whom die in
their homes. More than 10,000 are exposed to
levels so dangerous that medical attention is
required.
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Carbon Monoxide
Attributes/Effects

• Odorless Colorless
• Nausea, Headache, Dizziness
• Causes Drowsiness
• CAN BE FATAL

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Carbon Monoxide Poisoning

• Prevention
• Never run the engine in an enclosed area
• Have the exhaust system (muffler) checked for
  leaks
  

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Stuck In Snow

• Clear a path for snow removal/salt spreader
  vehicles
  
• Straighten front wheels
• Use abrasive materials under wheels
• Gentle pressure on accelerator
• Dont spin wheels
• Rocking the vehicle - check owners manual
• Last resort

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Summary

• Prepare your vehicle
• Plan your trip
• Drive defensively
• Slow down!
• Keep distance
• Clean off windows - see
• Clean off all lights and turn lights on - be seen

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