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Dust off Your Winter Driving Skills for Winter Storm
Posted 12 January, 2012
Strong
winds and light snow may cause some travel headaches for Iowans today,
according to the Iowa Department of Transportation (DOT). Iowa DOT
forecasts predict something Iowans have not seen in a while - gusty
winds, cold temperatures and snow showers - that will require drivers
to engage their winter driving skills.
“So far, the unseasonable temperatures and lack of snow have not
provided much winter driving practice,” said Annette Dunn, Iowa DOT
winter operations administrator. Iowa DOT forecasts predict a band of
snow that is expected to slow and increase in intensity as it moves
east tonight. On Thursday, the band of snow will stall across the east,
while the central and west will see flurries and snow showers. The snow
is expected to taper off in the east Thursday night. There is a
potential for some areas of the east to see up to six inches of snow by
late Thursday night. Much of the west will likely see less than an
inch. A strong, gusty northwest wind will develop behind the front
today and continue into Thursday night. Expect areas of blowing snow
especially in the east tonight into Friday morning.
Winter driving tips from the Iowa DOT
- Fill
your vehicle’s gas tank. Before traveling in winter weather, always
keep your vehicle’s gas tank nearly full and make sure your vehicle is
in good mechanical condition.
- Use
your vehicle's safety equipment. Your vehicle’s headlights are a
valuable asset when driving in winter weather. Turn them on to see and
be seen. Make sure you and your passengers are wearing their seat
belts, and any children are in their child safety seats.
- Never
use cruise control during winter weather. Your vehicle's cruise control
sensors may not work properly if the tires are traveling on packed snow
or ice. This can cause your vehicle to increase speed and increase the
danger of a crash.
- Keep
a winter survival kit in your vehicle. This kit should contain items to
help sustain your life and the lives of your passengers should your
vehicle become stranded. These items can include: booster cables,
candles and matches, a flashlight with fresh batteries, extra blankets
and warm clothes, nonperishable food items, a can for melting water,
and a snow shovel. Sufficient supplies should be in the kit for all
persons traveling in the vehicle.
- Use
caution when approaching or following a snowplow. Snowplows generally
operate at much slower speeds than other traffic. Snowplows can be
forced sideways when clearing hard-packed drifts and generate a "snow
cloud" that may impair the vision of drivers in nearby vehicles. Remain
a safe distance behind the snowplow, pass only when clear; and never
continue to drive alongside a plow. Allow plenty of space when passing
the snowplow because the wing of the plow blade extends out to the side
of the truck. Do not cut back into the lane of traffic too closely in
front of a snowplow truck because the blade also extends in front of
the truck. Remember the slogans, “Ice and Snow …Take It Slow” and
“Don’t crowd the plow.”
- Check
on the latest travel conditions. Visit www.511ia.org or call 511 (in
Iowa) or 800-288-1047 (nationwide). You can also receive 511 traveler
information via Twitter or text message. Visit the 511 website and
click on the “Twitter” icon to select your desired Twitter feeds. Feeds
are available for six Iowa metropolitan areas (Des Moines, Council
Bluffs, Cedar Rapids/Iowa City, Quad Cities, Sioux City and Cedar
Falls/Waterloo), each of the state’s 99 counties, all traffic alerts
and breaking news.
Because
of the predicted high winds, visibility may become an issue. In
addition, Dunn advises drivers to remain alert for unexpected slick
spots. “With temperatures expected to drop significantly, there is a
potential for snow to melt on the road then refreeze causing patches of
ice," Dunn explained. "It can be difficult to tell the difference
between ice and water on the pavement, so drivers need to slow down and
exercise caution when precipitation is occurring.”
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