Senior Beat
by Carol Higgins Taylor
Special to The Weekly
We’ve been lucky so far with regard to snow. But we are not out of the woods yet. While
reviewing winter driving safety tips may be tempting fate, better safe than sorry. I have
witnessed some pretty dangerous driving mistakes this season so with February still ahead, let’s have a reminder of how to stay safe.
Make sure all fluids are topped off and that the tires are in good shape or have the winter ones put on. I put studded tires on a few winters ago and can’t imagine not having them now. And even if you don’t drive far in the winter, you never know when the unexpected can happen so keep a blanket for warmth and snacks like crackers, nuts and raisins in the trunk. A fluorescent orange or red cloth tied to the antenna can make you more visible on the side of the road. Make sure your cell phone is fully charged. This in no way is meant as an emergency survival kit, it just makes waiting for the tow truck a little more comfortable.
The National Safety Council and the Bureau of Highway Safety Administration at nhtsa.gov has some thoughtful reminders to help you get through the snowy months:
• Keep a safe following distance. Count four seconds from when the rear bumper of the vehicle in front of you passes a mark, such as a telephone pole, until your front bumper passes that
same point. That is how much space should be between the two of you.
• Always assume you could hit ice and make allowances for it, especially at night, when it is hard to see the road clearly and when crossing bridges or overpasses.
• Keep sunglasses with you at all times as the sun bouncing off the snow and wet road can be blinding. There are clip-on varieties or get the disposable type from your eye doctor that just slip behind your glasses. Not fashionable but very effective — and cheap.
• Clear all the snow off your car — all of it, even though it may be tempting to sweep away just enough to see oncoming cars. Have you ever been hit with a flying sheet of snow coming off
the car in front of you? It can be deadly. It is also unsafe for you as roof snow can slide onto the
windshield when the car warms up enough to loosen it.
• Keep your car lights on so you can be seen by other drivers.
• Keep your windshield wipers free of ice and snow and replace at the first sign of streakiness. Winter wipers may be a good investment as they are a wider and thicker and move more snow.
• Having a 4-wheel drive vehicle is not a free pass to avoid safety rules. You may encounter drivers who are not practicing defensive driving simply because they are in trucks or SUVs and consequently think nothing can touch them. Keep your distance. Sometimes a false sense of security can spell disaster.
• Pay close attention the other drivers and how they maneuver on the roads. Have a plan and be prepared to get out of the way should they start skidding.
• Keep an eye on the temperature. Even a little melting can make the roads a lot slicker.
• Keep salt in your car in case the walkway at your destination is icy. Not everyone is
diligent about safety.
• And finally, slow down and have some patience. Better to get somewhere a little late than not at all.
While you might be the best driver in the world, chances are you’re not going to meet consistently like-minded motorists on the road so be careful and be safe.
Carol Higgins Taylor is an advocate for seniors and owns a public relations firm in Bangor. Email her at 4chtaylor@gmail.com.