Editorial

Don't become over confident about roads

Saturday, December 8, 2007

Last weekend's icy weather disrupted a few plans and kept people home who might otherwise have been on the road, but what about this weekend's?

The forecast doesn't sound all that frightening, with a chance of freezing drizzle and a few inches of snow possible through Sunday.

Perhaps that's the problem. Winter doesn't officially arrive for another two weeks, and yet we may already become complacent about traveling on dangerous roads.

Authorities don't want you to take it easy; they want you to be prepared in case you become stranded out on the road. AAA Nebraska urges drivers to pack their trunks with a blizzard preparedness kit to help protect passengers from frostbite and hypothermia in case a sudden storm strikes.

Items should include heavy blankets or thermal sleeping bags, mittens, socks, sweatpants and sweatshirts, boots, hats and newspapers, and plastic garbage can liners which can be used to help retain body heat.

The kit should also include common hand tools, a first aid kit, jumper cables, electrical tape or duct tape, flares or warning triangles, a tire jack, fire extinguisher, a small shovel, ice scraper, transistor radio, a container of sand for traction, an empty coffee can filled with matches and candles, non-perishable food items and a bright red cloth to tie to an antenna or door handle.

In your glove compartment, place emergency contact information, spare change for a pay telephone, an auto cell phone charger, pocket knife, tire pressure gauge, notepaper and pencil, and a waterproof flashlight with alkaline batteries.

Make sure you have a cell phone that's fully charged before setting out on your journey and programmed with important emergency contact numbers.

Modern drivers have the advantage of having the Nebraska Highway Helpline available by dialing *55 from their cell phones, or getting road conditions by dialing 511.

AAA Nebraska's Web site also has information available at the News/Safety tab, and the Gazette's Web site, mccookgazette.com, has a weather tab for the latest forecast information.

Just because you've seen icy roads and snowdrifts before, don't become overconfident.

Respond to this story

Posting a comment requires free registration: