KHP offers some winter driving tips

The Kansas Highway Patrol is sending a message of safety out to motorists this winter and has issued some travel advice.

KHP Technical Trooper Rick Wingate said one of the most important winter weather driving tips to remember is to "make sure the vehicle is ready for travel" by checking the car's fluids, making sure the radiator is winterized, the windshield washer fluid tank is full and the fuel tank is at least above one-quarter tank or fuller.

"You never want to have less than one-quarter of a tank," he said. "You never know when you will come across a storm. That will allow you to always make it to the next station."

Wingate said it is also a good idea to make sure tires have adequate tread as "traction is an extremely important factor" in winter driving. Drivers are also advised to check wiper blades every four to six months because they can become cracked or brittle and will not work properly.

Another suggestion is to have the car's exhaust system checked. Small leaks can lead to carbon monoxide entering the passenger compartment of the vehicle, Wingate said.

Other tips include checking the vehicle's belts, hoses and brake system for excessive wear; increasing following distance between vehicles in ice and snow; making time to leave earlier in the morning for work and appointments as there may be traffic delays; making turns slowly and gradually; and accelerating and braking gently on icy and snowy roads.

If a vehicle loses traction and begins to slide, drivers should "start steering toward the direction they want to go" and "anticipate a second skid as the car straightens out," Wingate said.

Drivers should also keep important items in their vehicles in case they become stranded along the road for a period of time, Wingate said. An emergency kit should include a first-aid kit, plenty of blankets, kitty litter for placing under tires to help with traction, a flashlight, snack items such as granola bars, a shovel, jumper cables and bottled water.

Wingate said one of the most common winter driving mistakes he has seen that can lead to accidents is the driver not making the transition from fall driving to winter driving.

"People drive too fast for the road conditions. Decrease your speed when conditions become icy or snowy," he said.

At the top of the safety list, Wingate said, is to "always wear that seat belt."

"Make sure you're buckled up," he said. "Make sure there is good visibility and that you clean the vehicle off. Also, use your headlights. And the reason for that is not so you can see, but so you can be seen. Use them when the conditions dictate."

Wingate said it is also good to travel with a companion. Elderly people or those who live alone should make sure to share travel plans with their family, including their expected time of departure, route and arrival.

"If they are stranded, KHP will have some idea where to start looking in the event of a mishap," he said.

Motorists who are involved in a traffic crash, or need assistance, can call 911 or contact KHP at *47 from a cell phone. They can call *KTA if traveling on the Kansas Turnpike. To find out road conditions, call 511 from a landline or cell phone, or view conditions online at www.kandrive.org.

Wingate is the public resource officer for the patrol's Troop H, which consists of 16 counties in Southeast Kansas and is headquartered in Chanute.