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Surviving the Winter Drive

On the ice: At 30 degrees, ice is twice as slippery as it is at 0 degrees.   It forms first and lasts longer on bridges and in the shade. If you hit an unexpected patch, don't try to brake, accelerate or downshift. Let up on your accelerator and let your vehicle "roll" through the slippery area.

·          Skidding: If you go into a skid, act quickly by taking your foot off the accelerator. Keep your foot off the brake and steer in the direction the rear of the vehicle is skidding. Use a light touch.

·          Braking: For front-and-rear wheel-drive vehicles with disc or drum brakes, the National Safety council recommends squeezing the brakes with a slow, steady pressure until just before they lock. When you feel them start to lock, ease off until your wheels are rolling; then squeeze again. Brake SMOOTHLY!

·          Deer: When you see deer or other animals ahead, slow down. Avoid animals if possible, but do not swerve into the on-coming lane and risk a head-on collision or run off the road and risk hitting another object.

·          Dead batteries: When jumping batteries connect one cable to the (+) terminal of each battery. Then connect one end of the second cable to the (-) terminal of the booster battery and the other end to a nut or bolt on the engine. Do not connect it to the (-) of the discharge battery.

·          Start the engine of the helper vehicle and let it run a few minutes, and then start the disabled vehicle engine. Remove cables in the exact REVERSE order.

·          Stay clear of plows and sanders: Slow down. Plows and sanders will pull over periodically to let traffic pass. It's risky to pass on the left of a snow plow because of blowing snow. Never pass on the right. Flying rock can damage your car if you pass a sander. The best advice is to stay three car lengths behind plows and sanders.

·          Stay in line when traveling to or from a snow zone. Don't blaze your own trail, especially going downhill.

·          Safety belts and child safety seats will keep you and your child from being thrown around inside your vehicle should you go into a skid or hit an object.

·          Clear all windows, headlights and taillights of snow, ice or fog before starting out. Also clear any snow off the hood – it comes loose when driving.

·          Turn on your low beam head lights, and check to make sure they are on low beam.

·          Dirty headlights can cut visibility by 50 percent or more. Keep all lenses free of dirt. Don't forget the directional lights, taillights and rotating lights.

·          Tires need adequate tread for traction in snow and to reduce the risk of hydroplaning in rain or puddles on the road.

·          Following distance: Maintain at least three times the normal following distance on snow or ice. If you are being followed too closely, maintain an extra distance behind the vehicle ahead so that you can slow down or brake gradually.

And finally, if the roads are too hazardous for your driving skills or the vehicle you have available, stay home or call a friend to get a ride.

Don’t wait until it’s too late!   Winter is here!

Driving in winter means snow and ice, high winds and early darkness. This leads to slower traffic, hazardous road conditions, hot tempers and other unexpected hazards.

Here are a few suggestions to help you through the winter months.

Prep your vehicle:

Tune it up! This will help with better fuel mileage, quicker starts; especially in the mornings and faster response. Here is a basic winter check list:

            Check the brakes, hoses and fan belts.

            Check the air, fuel and emission filters. Don’t forget the PVC valve.

            Check the battery. Have a load test done if it’s been in the vehicle for awhile.

            Check the tires for proper inflation, sidewall wear and tread depth.

Check the antifreeze levels. Clean and flush the cooling system annually. Ensure that                         the engines thermostat is working properly.

Carry the essentials:

Winter emergencies can happen quickly, so be prepared. Keep your fuel tank at least 3/4 full at all times. Make sure you have antifreeze handy. Stock the trunk with these necessities:

·         Spare tire properly inflated, jack and lug nut wrench.

·         Shovel

·         Jumper cables

·         Tow chain or cable and tire chains

·         Bag of salt, sand or kitty litter

·         At least 2 blankets, drinking water and some non perishable food items

·         First aid kit and some flares or reflectors

·         Flashlight

It’s not a bad idea to carry some extra clothing such as socks, an extra winter jacket, gloves, ski caps and ear muffs, etc.

If you can avoid driving during inclement weather, do so. If you have to drive however, being prepared may prevent a serious situation from occurring and may even save your life!

Remember: Drive as though your life depends on it!

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Code RED EMERGENCY CALLING SYSTEM

Coshocton County has an Emergency Telephone Calling System named “CODE RED”. This calling system has the capability to call every phone in the county within a short period of time, or targeted areas as needed in the event of an emergency. The calling system is used for Emergency Communication to county residents and can be triggered by personnel from several emergency response agencies within the county. The phone numbers called are the ones recorded in a database of Coshocton County telephones.

A NEW CAPABILITY HAS BEEN ADDED TO OUR CALLING SYSTEM

Each resident of Coshocton County can now add additional phone number(s) to the data base to be sure they are contacted if a call is placed to notify them of an emergency situation. Your street/road address is very important so a call will only be placed to you if your address is affected by the emergency condition.

By using this capability, you can add not just your home number but a cell phone number if you would like to receive the call on it.

To add a name and phone number(s), go to the Coshocton County Web Site:

www.coshoctoncounty.net

Then click on the red and black CODE RED icon at the top of the page and follow the directions to add the number(s) you would like to add to the data base.

You may also access the CODE RED icon from these additional sites:

www.coshoctonema.com

www.coshoctoncounty.net/sheriff

If you have questions, please call the Coshocton County Emergency Management Agency at 740-622-1984.

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