Safety
Road Work Zones
Summer Work Zone Safety
Winter Work Zone Safety
Saferoadmaps.org – Interactive maps developed by U of M researchers from CERS (Center for Excellence in Rural Safety) that detail road fatalities in your area.
Winter Driving
Heavy snow, slippery ice and bone-chilling cold – they can all present a travel challenge and cause havoc on your vehicle or yourself. But if you plan ahead and are prepared to deal with the adverse conditions of the season, you can conquer a Minnesota winter.
Step One – Winterize Your Vehicle
| -Get a mechanic check on these operating parts: |
- Battery
- Antifreeze
- Wipers and windshield washer fluid
- Ignition system
- Thermostat
- Lights
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- Flashing hazard lights
- Exhaust system
- Heater
- Brakes
- Defroster
- Oil level (replace with SAE 10w/30 or a winter grade oil)
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- Check your tire tread. A safe thickness is 5/32”. All-weather radials are adequate for most winter conditions, but you may want to switch to a winter tire. Some jurisdictions require vehicles to be equipped with snow tires with studs or chains.
- Keep a windshield scraper and small broom for ice and snow removal.
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Step Two – Assemble a Winter Survival Kit
Keep these items on hand:
- Booster cables
- Set of tire chains or traction mats
- Flashlight with extra batteries
- First aid kit with pocket knife
- Several blankets
- Sleeping bags
- Extra newspapers for insulation
- Plastic bags (for sanitation)
- Matches
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- Extra set of mittens, socks, and a wool cap
- Rain gear and extra clothes
- Small sack of sand for generating traction under wheels
- Small shovel
- Small tools (pliers, wrench, screwdriver)
- Brightly colored cloth to use as a flag
- Canned fruit and nuts
- Nonelectric can opener
- Bottled water
- Necessary medications
- Cards, games and puzzles
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Step Three – Be a Smart Traveler
- Maintain at least a half tank of gas during the winter season.
- Listen to the radio or go online for the latest road conditions. Always travel during daylight and, if possible, take at least one other person.
- If you must go out during a winter storm, use public transportation.
- Dress warmly. Wear layers of loose-fitting, lightweight clothing.
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Wind Chill
Wind chill is a calculation of how cold it feels to your exposed skin when the effects of temperature and wind speed are combined. A strong wind combined with a temperature of just below freezing can have the same effect as a still air temperature about 35 degrees colder.
Winter Storm Watches/Warnings
A winter storm watch indicates that severe winter weather may affect your area. A winter storm warning indicates that severe winter weather conditions are definitely on the way. A blizzard warning means that large amounts of falling or blowing snow and sustained winds of at least 35 miles per hour are expected for several hours.
If You Are Trapped in a Car During a Blizzard
- Stay in the car. Do not leave the car to search for assistance unless help is visible within 100 yards. It’s easy to become disoriented and lost in blowing and drifting snow.
- Hang a brightly colored cloth on the radio antenna and raise the hood.
- Turn on the car's engine for about 10 minutes each hour. Run the heater when the car is running. Also, turn on the car's dome light when the car is running.
- Beware of carbon monoxide poisoning. Keep the exhaust pipe clear of snow, and open a downwind window slightly for ventilation.
- Watch for signs of frostbite and hypothermia.
- Do minor exercises to keep up circulation. Clap hands and move arms and legs occasionally. Try not to stay in one position for too long.
- If more than one person is in the car, take turns sleeping. Huddle together for warmth.
- Use newspapers, maps and the removable car mats for added insulation.
- Avoid overexertion. Cold weather puts an added strain on the heart. Unaccustomed exercise such as shoveling snow or pushing a car can bring on a heart attack or make other medical conditions worse.
- Be aware of symptoms of dehydration.
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Frostbite and Hypothermia
Frostbite is a severe reaction to cold exposure that can cause permanently damage. A loss of feeling and a white or pale appearance in fingers, toes, nose or ear lobes are symptoms of frostbite.
Hypothermia is a condition brought on when the body temperature drops to less than 90 degrees Fahrenheit. Symptoms of hypothermia include uncontrollable shivering, slow speech, memory lapses, frequent stumbling, drowsiness and exhaustion.
If frostbite or hypothermia is suspected:
- Begin warming the person slowly and seek immediate medical assistance. Warm the person's trunk first. Use your own body heat to help. Arms and legs should be warmed last because stimulation of the limbs can drive cold blood toward the heart and lead to heart failure.
- Put person in dry clothing and wrap their entire body in a blanket.
- Never give a frostbite/hypothermia victim alcohol or liquids with caffeine (coffee, tea, soft drinks). Caffeine, a stimulant, can cause the heart to beat faster and hasten the effects of frostbite/hypothermia. Alcohol, a depressant, can slow the heart and also hasten the ill effects of cold body temperatures.
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American Red Cross Winter Storm Preparation |
