Winter is coming: Is your vehicle ready?

As the northernmost state, Alaska brings unique challenges to residents during the winter, with portions of the state seeing near-constant darkness and temperatures dropping

to an average of 11 degrees in January.

With such conditions, it’s important to know what safety precautions to take when driving.

“You could literally kill someone else or yourself simply by not being prepared and not taking adequate precautions to address winter weather,” said Kurt Wolford, a safety specialist at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson’s 673d Air Base Wing Safety

Office.

One of the biggest safety concerns is people driving on base during the winter who haven’t taken the time to familiarize themselves with their vehicle before the heavy snow falls.

“One recurring problem is those who are new to Alaska and a cold-weather environment who haven’t taken the time to learn how to drive in the snow and ice,” Wolford said. “This leads to them being inadequately prepared and wrecking their vehicles.”

The most important step in winter-driving preparation is preparing the vehicle itself. Drivers should ensure their vehicle is properly equipped with appropriate safety measures.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration recommends having your vehicle serviced before winter to ensure it’s in optimal condition.

Other safety measures the NHTSA recommend are checking the battery, inspecting tires, and stocking the vehicle with necessities in case of emergency.

Having a vehicle stocked with a snow shovel, abrasive material such as kitty litter or sand, jumper cables, basic tools such as wrenches and screwdrivers, a flashlight, flares, blankets and extra clothing, and food – and always ensure your cell phone is fully charged before departing – could be the difference between life and death if a vehicle ends up in a snowbank.

“There are a lot of prebuilt kits out there that are very quick and easy and that are actually pretty decent as far as containing everything one would need,” Wolford added.

As the temperature drops, a car’s battery will lose its charge.

It is important to make sure the battery is ready by either replacing it or making sure the cable connections are tight.

When the roadways turn from pavement to a winter sliding land, traction is crucial. It is critical now to inspect your tires, and consider studded ones. While inspecting the tires, make sure they are in good overall condition with minimum wear. As well as the tread of the tire, check the tire pressure, as it will drop more rapidly in colder temperatures.

“A lot of drivers think the studs make them invincible,” Wolford said. “What a lot of people don’t realize is that those studs, especially in significant snowfall, only give the snow something to grab hold of defeating your own purpose.”

JBER offers a variety of resources for those with base access to prepare them and keep them safe during the snowy season.

Of those resources there is the Automotive Skills Center on JBER. Their facility offers sixteen bays and a wide variety of tools available

for rental on a first-come, first-

served basis for those who have base access.

“We have seven lift bays, eight flat bays and one satellite accumulation bay for the disposal of hazardous waste such as oil and light bulbs,” said Adam Young, lead mechanic at the Automotive Skills Center.

The facility also has mechanics on staff available to assist.

“I’ve seen and done it all,” Young said. “Our staff has a combined experience of 30 years, and those who come to our center have a wide variety of tools at their disposal.”

The Automotive Skills Center is open from 11:30 a.m. to 9:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, and from 10:30 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. on the weekends.

Those who have base access are encouraged to utilize the resources to prepare and keep safe this winter while driving.

“You’re operating a vehicle that can be a ton or more,” Wolford said. “If you aren’t prepared you could kill yourself or somebody else.”

For more information on preparation from the NHTSA, go to www.nhtsa.gov.

For more information about the Automotive Skills Center call, 907-384-3781 or visit www.jberlife.com/fun/automotive-skills-center.