Winter Weather Driving Tips

Straight from the Indiana State Police:

With the threat of snow and ice in the forecast for northeast Indiana, driving conditions can change quickly. To help Hoosiers prepare for winter driving, the Indiana State Police offers the following safety tips.

Be prepared:
· Before traveling, check the forecast and let someone know your travel route.
· Keep your gas tank full, if possible. Never let it get below ½ a tank.
· Carry a winter driving kit which should include: blankets, flashlight and extra batteries, a brightly colored cloth, sand (or cat litter), shovel, candle, matches, non-perishable high calorie food, a first-aid kit, jumper cables and cell phone.

Drive according to road conditions:
· Allow extra time to get to your destination. Do not get in a hurry.
· Clear all windows of ice and snow and remove snow from hood, roof and head lights and tail lights.
· Beware of bridges, underpasses, shaded areas and intersections where ice is slow to melt.
· Slow down to increase traction; don’t use cruise control on slick roads.
· Avoid abrupt stops and starts, slow down gradually and keep wheels turning to avoid loosing traction.
· Use low beam headlights to decrease glare from ice.

Should you become stranded:
· Don’t leave your car, it’s the best protection you have.
· Tie a brightly colored cloth to your antenna if you need help.
· If you have no antenna, hang it out the drivers window
· Roll down your window slightly for fresh air.
· Keep the exhaust pipe free of blockage to prevent carbon monoxide poisoning.
· Don’t panic, an idling car uses only one gallon of gas per hour.

Lt. Gary Robbins, Commander of the Fort Wayne Post, would like to remind everyone the best sources for road and weather information are your local radio and TV media.
PLEASE DO NOT CALL city, county or state police dispatch centers to ask what the road and weather conditions are. We need to keep our lines open for emergency calls.For Indiana road conditions between December 1st and March 31st, call 800-261-7623 or visit the state police website at www.in.gov/isp