Preparations for winter driving

A winter storm’s in the region’s midst. Driving conditions are going to get dicey for Thanksgiving travel. The most important thing is slow down and buckle up.

According to the Idaho Transportation Department, seat belts saved 54 lives on Idaho state roadways last year and another 34 lives would have been saved if they had been wearing their seat belt.

AAA says 202,000 Idahoans will be on the road this weekend for Thanksgiving . More people means more accidents. The Idaho transportation Department has been preparing for months for the heavy traffic and winter driving conditions. Salt trucks have been prepping roads and the plows are on standby for when the snow hits. Mechanics in the area say it is important to have your vehicle ready.

“The biggest thing is check your fluids, first off, check the batteries, check your tires, make sure they are properly inflated and have good traction,” said J.R. Henderson, of All Things Automotive. “Second thing to me would be to make sure you have a blanket, pair of gloves, tow rope, jumper cables, and flashlight in your trunk at all times. If you do end up slipping off the road, the biggest thing is keep the tail pipe clear and the bumper clear so the car can pull air in and get air out and leave the windows cracked about a quarter of an inch.”

The reason people want to keep the tail pipe and bumper clear is so the car won’t overheat. If the tail pipe is clogged the fans on the radiator can’t keep the engine cool and then there will be no heater.

If anyone has any questions about winter driving conditions or road closures, they can dial 511 with the Idaho Transportation Department.