A Crash course in winter driving

Before leaving home…Check weather at destinationCheck State of Colorado road condition website:

cotrip.orgCheck your favorite tv/radio station weather reportAllow extra time for your commuteFully clean windshield, side and rear windows and headlight

lensesBe sure your windshield washer reservoir is fullLook at your tires: do they look low? Is a low tire

dashlight illuminated?De-ice car doorsFully warm vehicle and defrost all windows

How to jump a vehicle

To reduce chance of explosion of errant gases: hook negative cable of dead car to a metal area – not the negative battery post (5D)

Obscured windshield- illegal and dangerous

Clear all snow from roof as the snow can suddenly shift forward or rearward without notice and block your

vision or that of the driver behind you!

Hazards- test brakes and driving surface in a safe location

If your car is equipped with antilock brakes- be sureYou know what they sound like when activated and

how to use them most effectively

Recognize how slippery the surface will be for both you and oncoming traffic.

Learn how to recognize when black ice conditions exist on the road

Residential streets stay slippery longer because of lower traffic

Residential streets with heavy snowfall may haveunseen ice deep in the ruts

Lack of sunlight on road surface of underpasses means they stay icy much longer than nearby roads

Road surface on overpasses freezes and gets icy much sooner than nearby surfaces

Be Aware that wheelchairs and walkers can lose and gain traction at unpredictable times when accessing

vehicles.

Accessible vehicles are high profile thus are far more susceptible to high wind buffeting under winter conditions

Carry traction mats or other similar devices in your car in the winter (or mud and sand conditions)

Practice “rocking” your car out of the tire ruts by using alternate forward and reverse gears

Avoid over-accelerating when trying to regain traction

If in an accident and there is:

Damage to any vehicleIf there are injuries to any occupant orIf any drivers appear incapacitated CALL 911!

In case of accident…-provide 1st aid to all those in immediate need (if you are qualified to do so)-call 911-obtain full information on all involved drivers

If a company car is involved: call 911 and then your supervisor. Fully complete accident report and any necessary Incident Reports

and turn into your supervisor