Slow down, prepare and care on winter roads

Snow, ice, wicked whipping winds.

It may be six weeks until winter arrives officially on the calendar, but that’s small comfort to those whose daily commutes or dashes to the store have resulted in a car in a ditch, a rollover or a spin into the path of a snowplow.

Every year when the roads become slick, slushy and covered in snow, we have to learn again how to drive in Alaska’s harsh winter — and how to be prepared for anything winter may fling at us while we are on the road. If we sound like a broken record, we’d apologize, except reading the Police Beat each issue is a sobering reminder we need to repeat ourselves.

The blotter is also full of names of young drivers who need to be reminded every time they get behind the wheel that winter driving can be hazardous.

It’s really as easy as 1-2-3.

1. Slow down. There is nowhere you need to be so desperately that you should endanger the lives of yourself, your passengers and those on the road with you. If it truly is an emergency, call 911. Otherwise, slow down and prepare to apologize for being late. Better yet, allow yourself more than enough time to get where you need to be. The phrase “too fast for conditions” means sometimes 35 in a 55 mph zone is too fast; posted maximums as safe speeds are as meaningful as a calendar that says it is still fall in Alaska. And remember, it takes longer to stop on slick roads. Give yourself adequate time at intersections and don’t follow other vehicles too closely.

2. Be prepared. Stock your vehicle with the gear you may need to deal with what Mother Nature throws at you. Blanket, flashlight and shovel should be as indispensable as your ice scraper. Throw in a cell phone, jumper cables, sand or cat litter and a tool kit, and you are prepared for local travel. If you are traveling low-traffic byways, keep stocking. Foods, candles and matches, sleeping bag, water and other emergency supplies should be on your list. Remember, people have died stranded on Alaska’s highways. Don’t take chances.

3. Be compassionate. Stranded motorists needs help. Stop and give assistance. If you aren’t comfortable approaching a stranger, check to make sure he or she is OK and ask who you can call for help, or dial 911 and advise authorities of the problem. Sometimes a couple of Good Samaritans can get a car back on the road with just a little muscle. Nobody is too busy or in so much of a hurry that they can’t make sure a stranded motorist is OK.

Better to stop for 60 seconds to check on someone in a stranded or wrecked vehicle than to hurry along with your busy life and read the next day’s newspaper to learn the stranded motorist you were too busy to check up on died of exposure on the side of the road or whose vehicle caused an accident because it was obstructing the roadway . It really is that easy — slow down, prepare and care.