Snowy roads are a fact of winter PHOTO: WRN
Unseasonably mild November weather is but a temporary reprieve from what we all know lies ahead, and motorists are being urged to be ready for winter driving. Wisconsin Emergency Preparedness Coordinator Tod Pritchard says too many drivers tend to minimize the risks of hitting the road during Wisconsin winters, with sometimes tragic results. “Every year we end up having about 70 people killed on our roads,” due to poor winter driving conditions, said Pritchard. “We’re really trying to get people to think about . . . those emergencies.”
And the best way, said Pritchard, is to pack your vehicle with a basic emergency kit. “It can just be a shovel, an extra scraper, energy bars, matches, candles, a first aid kit, a blanket.” Pritchard says a cell phone helps, but bring a charger and bear in mind coverage areas vary around the state. It’s best to tell someone your travel route and destination before you leave. Also, if your car does become disabled, Pritchard says it’s far safer to stay with it than to attempt walking for help. This year’s winter awareness campaign has Wisconsin native, NASCAR driver Matt Kenseth, as its spokesman. There’s more on winter driving safety at the Ready Wisconsin website.