INDIANAPOLIS —
Extremely cold temperatures are expected to embrace Indiana throughout the next 48 hours and AAA Hoosier Motor Club wants motorists to plan ahead.
Cold weather can adversely affect automobiles in a number of ways. Tire pressure can drop considerably, batteries become less effective, engine belts lose a certain amount of flexibility and hoses are put under a lot of stress.
The night before a big chill...
Make sure your gas tank is filled up at least half way to avoid fuel line freeze-up
Be sure your tires are properly inflated
Spray WD-40 or another general purpose lubricant into key holes to prevent frozen locks
Be sure to prepare a roadside emergency kit consisting of no less than a bag of abrasive material (sand, salt or cat litter), a small snow shovel and snow brush, traction mats, a flashlight with fresh batteries, ice-thawing window-washing solvent, gloves or mittens, an ice scraper, a cloth or paper towels, booster cables, a blanket, warning flares or triangles, a fully-charged cellular phone with emergency numbers and non-perishable food/snack items
DO NOT wash your car, especially if it's going to sit outside
If you encounter frozen locks...
Spray WD-40 or another de-icing fluid from a warm can directly into the lock
Cup your hands together and blow warm air directly into the key holes
DO NOT force a key or other instrument into the lock
NEVER pour hot water on or into a frozen lock
Windshield wipers, washer reservoir and vehicle exterior
Clean windows offer optimal visibility so obviously, wiper blades that streak the windshield should be replaced. The washer reservoir bottle should be filled with an antifreeze washer solvent. To prevent damage to your wiper blades or wiper motor, be sure the wipers are free of ice and snow and turned off before starting the engine.
Additionally, when warming your vehicle up, never do so in an enclosed area and never leave a vehicle unattended with the engine running.
Drive Cautiously
Navigating Indiana roadways during the winter months can be hazardous so motorists should exercise caution to help maintain safety for themselves and their passengers, other drivers and even roadside workers.
Before hitting the roads during inclement winter weather, remove as much snow as possible from your vehicle so that it doesn't blow onto your windshield or onto the windshield of other automobiles. Mirrors and lights should be clean as well.
Low-beam headlights should always be illuminated.
When the roads are icy, drivers should slow down and allow extra time to reach a given point of destination. Delaying trips all together is an even better idea; at least until sunlight and salt trucks can combine to make navigation safer.
Drivers should allow sufficient room for maintenance vehicles and plows on roadways. In fact, it's recommended that motorists stay at least 15 car lengths (200 feet) back. If passing is necessary, do so on the maintenance vehicle's left-hand side.
Watch for icy surfaces on bridges, even when roads seem to be in good condition.
If you're stuck in snow, straighten your steering wheel and accelerate slowly. Sand or cat litter can be added under the drive wheels to help avoid tire spinning.
When tires lose traction, drivers should continue to look and steer in the direction they want to go. If drive wheels start to spin or slide while going up a hill, ease off the accelerator slightly before gently returning to a safe driving speed.
Look farther ahead in traffic. Actions by others can alert you to potential problem areas and can help allow for additional reaction time.
When changing lanes, avoid cutting in front of large trucks. They need additional time and distance to stop.
Cruise control functions should never be used in precipitation or when temperatures are below freezing.
News
Motorists urged to prepare for frigid temperatures
- News
-
-
Rose-Hulman professor researching ways to make homes storm safe
Tornadoes produce greater uplift forces than hurricanes, which can flatten homes such as in Moore Okla., south of Oklahoma City.
-
Group wants to connect city with river
Fairbanks Park is underutilized.
The Wabash River is peaceful and inviting, but there is some concern about its cleanliness as well as pollution levels. Also, people can’t get on the river unless they have a boat. -
New conservancy district appoints first directors
Members of the first board of directors of a new lake conservancy district were appointed Tuesday by the Vigo County Board of Commissioners.
-
Vigo law enforcement signs Triad charter to protect seniors
Indiana Attorney General Greg Zoeller joined Vigo County law enforcement and community activists Tuesday to sign the county’s first Triad charter, becoming the 22nd Triad in Indiana.
-
Wabash Valley Red Cross wraps up Save the Day Campaign
The American Red Cross Wabash Valley Chapter’s 2013 annual meeting concluded the 17th annual Save the Day Campaign, and the results lifted the spirits of all who were involved.
-
Some Vigo roads washed out
Spring storms resulted in $250,000 in damages to roads in southern Vigo County, with costs including sand and labor to save homes near river bottoms, said county highway Assistant Superintendent Dan Bennett.
-
County Council votes $78K toward rail spur
County officials voted Tuesday night to make good on a 2011 promise to help improve a railroad spur just north of Terre Haute for Menard Inc.
-
Spring flooding damages future CSO holding lagoon
Flood waters from the Wabash River have done costly damage to one of the city-owned “lagoons” on former International Paper property.
-
Vigo tops state average for IREAD-3 scores
The Vigo County School Corp. exceeded the state average in the percentage of students passing the state’s mandatory Grade 3 reading test, IREAD-3.
-
Storms cause minor damage in Valley
Tuesday morning storms in the Wabash Valley caused thousands of Duke Energy customers to lose power.
-
Kindergartner diagnosed with MD treated to a day with the fire department
“He’ll just never forget this day,” Stacey Manley said, a little bit tearfully, as she watched her smiling 6-year-old son Carter sitting happily in the captain’s seat of Fire Engine 2.
-
Casey, Illinois aims for another world record
The town of Casey, Ill., may soon weave its way into the record books as the small town with the most world records. After setting records for the world’s largest wind chimes and the world’s largest golf tee, Casey is now looking to become home to the world’s largest knitting needles and crochet hook.
-
Rose-Hulman projects will promote growth, learning for people with physical challenges
Life changed dramatically for college engineering student Drew Christy on Feb. 22, 2008 when he was involved in an auto accident and suffered a traumatic brain injury.
-
‘500’ gas stations being sold to Speedway LLC
After several decades in business, the area’s familiar “500” gasoline stations and convenience stores will soon be missing from the roadsides of Vigo and Sullivan counties.
-
Terre Haute woman faces 14 charges
A Terre Haute woman faces 14 criminal counts after her arrest Friday on drug-related charges.
-
Two adults injured in ATV accident
Two adults were injured Sunday evening while riding an all-terrain vehicle near Lexington Farms Subdivision off Moyer Drive in southern Vigo County.
-
Vigo schools’ medical claims down 4 percent
The Vigo County School Corp.’s medical claims were about $13 million over the last 12 months, down 4 percent from the prior year, said Diane Titchenell, an Anthem account manager that works with the school district.
-
2013 Government Directory now available
The 2013 Government Directory is now available.
-
Life-Size Ping Pong: Valley pickleball tourney draws large crowd to Brittlebank Park
It’s been described as “ping pong on steroids.”
Some people call it “life-size ping pong where you stand on the table.” -
Boat trip aims to raise awareness about Lewy Body Dementia
In 2013, the Year of the River, it makes sense to link a grand adventure on the Wabash River with a good cause.
-
Legislature had little taste for alcohol bills
When it comes to alcohol, the 2013 legislative session may be marked more by what it didn’t do to boost booze sales than what it did.
-
STATE OF THE STATEHOUSE: Is it regulation that doesn’t make sense or evening the playing field?
I’m not much of a drinker, so I haven’t spent much time thinking about how Indiana’s alcohol laws personally impact me, but that changed last fall when my daughter got married.
-
For Piper: Annual ‘Rush the Punter’ event dedicated to Dixie Bee student who died Wednesday after a short illness
Steve Weatherford’s “Rush the Punter” fundraiser at Fairbanks Park on Saturday was dedicated to a little girl who lost her life unexpectedly to pneumonia.
-
Vigo schools prepare to tighten belts
State funding for the Vigo County School Corp. will remain “pretty flat” for the next two years, said Donna Wilson, chief financial officer.
-
Veterans take to the trees
Cristal Bednar took photos of her husband, Justin, as he laboriously climbed his way up a “Dangle-Duo” to get to a zipline at Indiana State University’s Sycamore Outdoor Center.
-
Property owner seeks halt to Hulman Lake dam project
A Terre Haute property owner is seeking an injunction that would at least temporarily halt the city’s work on the Hulman Lake dam project.
-
Tornado veterans balance preparedness, practicality
Few things in nature are less predictable than a tornado. They can form quickly. They strike weirdly, leveling one building while leaving its neighbor untouched. They can fling a car a half-mile and turn a piece of lumber into a wall-piercing missile.
-
ISU unveils interactive Bayh Family Legacy Wall at school
A who’s who of Indiana Democrats paid tribute to Evan Bayh and several generations of the Bayh family Friday during a dedication of a new interactive display at Indiana State University.
-
Can you smell me now?
A contraband cell phone has been discovered by the Vigo County Jail’s youngest and most unique officer.
-
GIVING BACK: Steve Weatherford buys shoes for kids day before charity run
Terre Haute’s Steve Weatherford, punter for the 2012 Super Bowl champion New York Giants, showed once again his generosity Friday by donating new athletic shoes to more than two dozen Vigo County kids.
- More News Headlines
-





