Safe Winter Driving

Information Compiled From The NHTSA and

OSHA

Winter Driving is Hazardous

• Winter driving can be hazardous and scary, winter storms tend to get a lot of snow and ice.

• Additional preparations can help make a trip safer. It can also help motorists deal with an emergency.

• This Power Point provides safety information to your Employees and their families in order to help prevent motor vehicle injuries and accidents due to winter storms.

The three P’s of Safe Winter Driving:

• PREPARE for the trip. • PROTECT yourself. • and PREVENT crashes on the road.

PREPARE• Maintain Your Car: Check battery, tire tread,

and windshield wipers, • keep your windows clear, put no-freeze fluid in

the washer reservoir, and check your antifreeze.

Keep in Your Vehicle• Have On Hand: flashlight, jumper cables,

abrasive material (sand, kitty litter, even• floor mats), shovel, snow brush and ice

scraper, warning devices (like flares) and• blankets. For long trips, add food and water,

medication and cell phone.

Plan Your route!• Plan Your route: Allow plenty of time (check the weather and

leave early if necessary if the weather is to bad consider postponing the trip until the weather clears)

• Carry maps and directions don’t rely solely on your GPS Navigation System. Tune into the Weather Stations on your radio and get constant updates.

• Let others know your route.• Check in periodically and give others to the best of your ability

your location at the time of the call and your projected arrival time.

• Once you have arrived call and let everyone know that you made it.

Practice Cold Weather Driving!

• During the daylight, rehearse maneuvers slowly on ice or snow in an empty lot.

• Steer into a skid. (Not Away From It!)• Know what your vehicles brakes will do: stomp on

antilock brakes, pump on non-antilock brakes.• Stopping distances are longer on water-covered ice

and ice.• Don’t idle for a long time with the windows up or

when the vehicle is in an enclosed space.

PROTECTYOURSELF

• Buckle up it’s the Law.• Use child safety seats properly.In Texas up to 4’9” in Louisiana 6yrs or 60lbs• Never place a rear-facing infant seat in front of

an air bag.• Children 12 and under are much safer in the

back seat.

PREVENT CRASHES

• Drugs and alcohol never mix with driving.• Slow down 10 mph or more under the speed limit is

recommended and increase the distances between cars.

• Keep your eyes open for pedestrians walking in the road.

• Avoid fatigue – Get plenty of rest before the trip, stop at least every three hours,

• and rotate drivers if possible.• If you are planning to drink, designate a sober driver.• Pay attention to winter weather Road Signs.

PREVENT CRASHES (Cont.)If the Road in front of you begins to look like bands of white sand moving across the road in front of you:

It is time to get off the road immediately!

PREVENT CRASHES (Cont.)

Once the road is covered in Snow and looks like this:

It is Often to Late!

In a slide?

• Don’t Panic!• Steer into a skid. (Not Away From It!)• Know what your vehicles brakes will do: stomp

on antilock brakes, pump on non-antilock brakes.

Stopped, Stalled, or in an Accident?

• First: Stay in your car (if possible and safe to do so), don’t overexert, put bright markers on your antenna or windows and shine the dome light or your flashlight if possible.

• Call 911 or OnStar (if equipped)• If you run your car for warmth, ensure the exhaust

pipe is clear (Exhaust Asphyxia)• run it just enough to stay warm and shut the car off

once warm. It could be awhile for help to get to you. Conserve your fuel.

Thank You!