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MURRAY – It’s doubtless many Calloway County residents might be touring subsequent week for Thanksgiving, and as you proceed getting used to the chilly climate, now is an efficient time to ensure your automobile is prepared for winter via correct upkeep and preserving an emergency equipment in case of a breakdown.
Keith Todd, public info officer for the Kentucky Transportation Cupboard’s District 1, stated that after western Kentucky acquired snow final Friday night time, he hoped it could remind motorists they need to get ready for extra extreme climate that may have an effect on their journey plans.
“I believe it is a good reminder,” Todd stated. “These early-season snowfalls give folks loads of time to prepare.”
In case you get stranded, KYTC recommends stocking your automobile winter emergency equipment with ice scrapers, jumper cables, blankets, additional gloves, a flashlight, a cellular phone charger, non-perishable snacks and a primary help equipment. Todd stated that along with storing a number of bottles of water in your automobile, he personally recommends preserving snacks like peanut butter crackers since they don’t go stale as rapidly as another meals.
Todd stated one useful tip not many individuals take into consideration is preserving a candle in your automotive, in addition to a method to mild it. This may are available very useful for those who run out of fuel on an especially chilly day or in case your automobile received’t begin, he stated.
“Though you may not give it some thought, a candle places off sufficient warmth you could heat your fingers with it,” Todd stated. “I additionally at all times carry additional paper towels in my equipment in case I would like it for one thing. Additionally, lots of people carry bathroom paper – since you by no means know.”
Winterizing your automobile is one other necessary step towards being ready for the surprising. KYTC is reminding motorists to examine their automotive battery, tire stress and brakes. Individuals also needs to be sure that their automobile’s heater, defroster, headlights and windshield wipers are all working correctly. Todd stated many individuals additionally overlook how crucial it’s to examine your tire tread. This is a crucial security tip at any time of 12 months, however particularly at the start of the winter.
“Most tire shops will examine it for you free of charge,” Todd stated. “(KYTC has) been pushing it for a number of years, however Colorado did a examine a number of years in the past of automobiles that went off the street in the course of the first two or three early-season snowfalls, they usually discovered {that a} fairly excessive quantity – it was round 50-60% – of the automobiles that ended up off the street had tread that was beneath the business commonplace. So in case your tire tread is beginning to get slightly skinny, this may be a superb time to examine it and begin taking a look at new tires.”
Even when your personal automobile doesn’t break down or get caught in an accident, an emergency equipment is useful for those who get caught in visitors. Todd recalled an excessive instance from 18 years in the past, when he had solely been in his present place at KYTC a few months.
“I began with the company in October of 2004, and Christmas week of ’04, we had a couple of foot of snow,” Todd stated. “We had a double-trailered FedEx truck that overturned on a hill in Lyon County between Eddyville and Cadiz, and it blocked the street simply lengthy sufficient that – because it was snowing so exhausting – (snow piled up) across the autos that had been stopped in visitors. Though we obtained the truck pushed off the street so visitors may go forward, by then, there was a lot snow round our autos that no one may transfer. There have been a few vans that had been stopped on a few of these hills, they usually could not get transferring. Some visitors was blocked for 36 or 38 hours.
“We had (KYTC staff) popping out in four-wheel drive vans and taking folks issues like water and snacks. There have been a number of people who had been near working out of fuel. I might not suggest carrying a can of fuel in your automobile as a result of a gallon of fuel is the equal of a stick of dynamite; however, particularly this time of 12 months, I am usually not going to let my fuel get beneath a couple of quarter of a tank just because for those who get caught in visitors and there is a crash someplace, you’ll must maintain your engine working to remain heat.”
KYTC additionally issued the next winter driving ideas in a information launch:
• Journey solely when obligatory throughout main snow occasions.
• When snow and/or ice are on roadways, drive slowly it doesn’t matter what sort of car you drive. It takes extra time and distance to cease your automobile in poor climate, so brake early and slowly.
• Take note of climate advisories and permit extra time to journey for routine commutes.
• Decelerate when approaching intersections, off-ramps, bridges or shaded areas. These are all candidates for growing black ice – a skinny coating of clear ice that may kind on the pavement floor which may be troublesome to see.
• Preserve a protected distance from snowplows and different heavy freeway tools, and don’t cross snowplows on the shoulder.
• Know earlier than you go. Obtain the free WAZE app or go to ky.gov to examine visitors situations earlier than you journey. The map additionally affords entry to pick visitors cameras on interstates and parkways.
• Remove distractions whereas driving, resembling utilizing a cellphone and/or consuming.
Individuals can go to snowky.ky.gov for snow and ice sources, like precedence route maps, ideas and freeway district updates, KYTC stated.
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