Severe Weather Awareness Week: Be prepared

Although it may not look like it, spring is quickly approaching and with that brings the chances for storms and dangerous travel condition. Severe weather can strike at any moment. If you must drive through storms, know the safety tips required to reach your destination safely.

Be Prepared:

The bottom line when driving during severe weather is to be prepared for anything. Before you travel check the weather forecast of your entire route.

If you see darkening skies tune into a local radio station or have your passengers look up the weather on their devices. It can be a good idea to be aware of locations where you can take a break from driving. Gas stations, restaurants, libraries and shopping centers are good examples.  

Driving in Rain:

Wipers on. Headlights on: This is Kansas law. Protect yourself and others around you. Headlights help increase the chances that you will be seen by other drivers.

Turn on Wipers and Keep Windows Clear: This may be a no-brainer, but a surprising number of people drive with windshield wipers that aren’t at their peak performance. It is suggested to get them replaced every 6-12 months. Use your de-frost function or air conditioner to keep your windows clear of fog.

Be Patient:  Take it slower than usual and give extra room to the drivers around you. Wet roads could cause your vehicle to hydroplane or lose traction.

Turn Around Don’t Drown: During severe weather, flash floods may occur. Never try to cross a flooded road way. The water may be deeper than you think and it is dangerous to try to drive over it. Find an alternate route. It only takes a few inches for the current to take you and your vehicle for an unwanted ride.  Abandon your vehicle if it stalls and seek higher ground.

Turn off Cruise Control:  Road conditions during severe weather are inconsistent. You need to be in control, not your vehicle.

Driving during a hailstorm:

Take shelter:  Don’t leave your vehicle unless you can get inside quickly. The hailstones could cause injury.  If you are near an underpass or bridge it is safe to wait out the hail.

Pull over:  if you are not near any shelter, stay in your vehicle and pull to side of the road.

Driving During High Winds:

Watch for Flying Debris: High winds can pick up items that become dangerous weapons if they should hit your or your vehicle.

Be prepared for wind gusts: If you drive a high profile vehicle such as an SUV, bus, or semi truck, you have a higher risk of being affected by high wind gusts. Consider not traveling in these vehicles if you can avoid it.

Driving During a Tornado:

This one is easy: Don’t. Never try to outrun a tornado, and don’t drive during one either.  Get out of your car and find shelter. If none can be found, get below the road’s surface and cover your head. A ditch or low area is suggested. Be aware of the water level around you and be on the lookout for flash floods. Never seek shelter in an underpass.

In every weather situation it is best to buckle up - every trip, every time - and pay attention to your environment.

Winter weather driving tips

Snow is falling across parts of the state. Here are a few winter weather driving tips for everyone to keep in mind. Be ready for rapidly changing road conditions and adjust your driving for the weather around your vehicle. 

Remember — for consistently-updated road conditions, check www.kandrive.org

Show someone how much you care: Drive safely

Valentine’s Day means different things to different people. Today can be a day of romance, a day to celebrate with friends or even treating yourself to that extra piece of chocolate.

Whether you are celebrating today, or looking forward to the discounted candy tomorrow, keep in mind there are many ways to express that you care about others. One of those ways is by driving responsibly and teaching others to do the same.

You can teach those you care about to protect themselves every time they get in a vehicle by explaining the importance of seat belt use. Lead by example and wear a seat belt each and every time you get behind the wheel. They’ll get the message.

Driving while distracted, especially with other people in the vehicle can seem like it’s not a big deal. At the same time, if someone is looking at their phone and texting while driving, a message is sent in more ways than one. It only takes a few seconds for a seemingly harmless message to change the lives of the people in  your vehicle forever.

Similarly, driving over the speed limit or not following the rules of the road can send the message that getting to your destination is more important than the lives of the people you share the road with.

Showing care for others is both a verb and a choice. By making smart decisions, like wearing a seat belt, ditching the distractions, driving sober and obeying the speed limit, you express to everyone how much you truly care.

What message will you send the next time you get behind the wheel?

#Back2Basics: Debunking common misconceptions about driving in Kansas

The driver’s license: It’s a rite of passage for new drivers. For many of them it’s a ticket to freedom. Obtaining a license potentially means that of depending on guardians, an older sibling or friend to provide transportation to a destination are a thing of the past.   

Before that license can be obtained, new drivers must go through training and testing to understand the rules of the road. 

Unfortunately, upon completion of those requirements, some drivers do not go back and reread the Kansas Driver’s Handbook. Important information and rules of the road may have been forgotten, which can have an impact on traffic behaviors.

For the next several weeks we will take a quick look at some of the misconceptions about driving. Feel free to read this blog as a reminder to yourself and share it with your loved ones.

Today’s #Back2Basics blog is about the speed limit in Kansas.

Common Misconception #1: “I can go 5-10 miles over the speed limit and I won’t get pulled over.”

Fact: According to both the Kansas Driver’s Handbook and the Kansas Highway Patrol, there is no buffer speed limit. Drivers should not exceed the posted speed limit. However, there are times when going below the speed limit may be necessary, especially during inclement weather.

 “Kansas’ basic speed law requires that you never drive a vehicle at a speed greater than is reasonable and prudent under the conditions then existing,” The Kansas Driving Handbook says, “Consider road, weather and your vehicle condition, as well as your own physical condition. What might be a reasonable speed at one time may not be reasonable at another time because of differing conditions. Adjust your driving to road, traffic and weather conditions.”

Speed Limits can vary depending on where you are.

Have you ever found yourself traveling in an unfamiliar part of the state, and you just aren’t sure what the speed limit is? Where no special hazards exist, the law sets maximum speeds for normal driving conditions. Unless otherwise posted the maximum speeds are:

• In Towns or Cities: Thirty (30) miles per hour in any urban district
• On Roads and Highways Outside of Towns: Seventy-five (75) miles per hour on any separated, multi-lane highway as designated and posted by the Secretary of Transportation
• Sixty-five (65) miles per hour on any State or Federal Highway
• Fifty-five (55) miles per hour on any County or Township road
• Unless otherwise posted – Maximum speed limits 20 mph -School Zone (when properly marked) -Business District (when properly marked)

Common Misconception #2: I can go as slow as I want as long as I don’t exceed the speed limit.

Fact:  Slower drivers must go the speed limit too and there is such a thing as going too slow. According to the handbook, minimum speed limits also exist on some roadways. Going too slow can impede traffic and it can lead to traffic incidents. Where these minimum speed limits are posted, any speed below that is considered unlawful under normal weather, road and traffic conditions.

“Even when a minimum speed is not posted, it is unlawful to drive a vehicle so slowly as to impede or block the normal movement of traffic,” the Kansas Driver’s Handbook says. “The exception is when it is necessary for safe operation in compliance with the basic speed law.”

So, the next time you are behind the wheel, remember unless conditions call for slower driving, the posted speed limit is the speed you should be going. Remember to slow down in Work Zones and give highway workers plenty of room.

Check back next week when we discuss passing misconceptions in Kansas.

For more information, you can read the Kansas Driver’s Handbook here:

https://www.ksrevenue.org/pdf/dlhb.pdf