Beat the glare when driving

Traveling in a direction that faces the sun is inevitable, and when it is shining directly in your eyes, driving can be a challenge. Most drivers have experienced the blinding rays and glare in their line of vision.  Whether you are on your way to work in the morning or going out on your evening adventures — here are some tips that will help you.

Keep your windshield clean: Don’t just clean your windshield on the outside, dust can collect on the inside as well, making the glare from the sun even worse.  Check your windshield for cracks or small pits in the surface.

Check your defrost system and windshield wipers: Frost and condensation from dew can make driving in the morning challenging. Check to make sure your car is equipped to clear your windshield.

Use your sun visor: While this may not help you when the sun is directly on the horizon, it is beneficial when the sun is slightly higher in the sky. Consider researching sun visor extensions to get more coverage across your line of vision.

Sunglasses: Your car comes equipped with sun visors, why shouldn’t you? Invest in sunglasses that not only look cool, but hep reduce glare.

Allow more space between vehicles: Driving with the sun directly in your line of sight can make it harder to see what is in front of you. Allowing for more distance can give you more room to stop.

Use your headlights: You can increase the chances of other motorists seeing you by driving with your headlights on.

Pay special attention at crosswalks: Double check each side of the road when you approach crosswalks and intersections. Look for shadows or any sign of movement before proceeding.

Use the road markings to help: If all these tips still leave you blindsided, look at the lines along the road or other visual cues.

Be prepared and stop in a safe location for a while when necessary — it’s better to arrive late than not at all.

State agencies urge winter weather preparedness during the holiday season

Here are some items that you can include in your winter weather travel kit. 

Prior to the upcoming winter weather season, the Kansas Department of Transportation, Kansas Turnpike Authority, and the Kansas Highway Patrol are urging motorists to travel safely and prepare for winter road conditions wherever they travel.

Road conditions in the state can be checked utilizing KDOT’s KanDrive site, www.kandrive.org. KanDrive provides map views of road conditions and closures, real-time camera views of current highway conditions, and links to road information for neighboring states. You can also call 5-1-1 from any phone in the state for a recording of road conditions.

The state encourages you to make sure your vehicle is prepared ahead of the storm season, when ice, snow or rain, as well as colder temperatures can make driving more difficult.  Check your wiper blades, tire treads, wiper fluid levels, and that in general your vehicle is in good mechanical working order, including your emergency flashing lights. It is recommended you keep a winter weather emergency kit in your vehicle at all times. Emergency kits should contain item such as: 

• A flash light
• Extra warm clothing
• Extra batteries
• Extra Vehicle Fluid
• A shovel
• Battery-powered radio
• Non-perishable snack food
• Bottled water
• Matches and candles
• First aid kit
• Pocket knife
• Tow chain and/or rope
• Booster cables
• Road flares
• Fluorescent Distress flag
• Blankets 

Here's a fun activity to teach youngsters how to dress warmly for winter travel. Don't forget a snow shovel in case you get stuck! 

When winter weather occurs, motorists should prepare to leave early and allow extra time for travel.  Frost and snow should be completely cleared off all windows, mirrors and lights to provide maximum visibility.

If you encounter winter weather while traveling: 

• Accelerate and brake gently.
• Increase following distance between you and other vehicles.
• Do not use cruise control when traveling in wet, icy or snowy conditions.
• Always buckle up and ensure your children are in appropriately-fitted child-safety seats.
• If you become involved in a non-injury crash, which does not involve hazardous materials, Kansas law requires you to move your vehicle out of the lane of travel to protect yourself, as well as other motorists.
• Dress for conditions. Make sure you have a coat, gloves, appropriate footwear, etc. if you are traveling in winter weather.
• Let loved ones know your route of travel. 

If you need help on a Kansas highway, call *47 for the Kansas Highway Patrol or call *KTA for the Kansas Turnpike Authority.

If you have an active K-TAG from the Kansas Turnpike Authority, you can use the electronic lanes on Oklahoma and Texas tollroads. Verify your K-TAG account is active and ready for travel by logging into your online account (www.myktag.com), by calling (800) USE-KTAG or by using the PayIt Kansas mobile app.

Winter Ready Wednesdays: Cold weather vehicle care

Snow is in the forecast once again this weekend. Is your vehicle prepared for travel? Extreme temperatures can be especially hard on cars. Here are some winterizing tips for your vehicle.

Make sure your car has enough of the fluids listed below:

Coolant: To keep your water from freezing inside your radiator, make sure you have the correct antifreeze/water ratio. All vehicles are different, check your owner’s manual or mechanic to make sure.

Oil: Make sure your oil is full and clean to avoid sludgy buildup.

Wiper fluid:  Because your windshield can become obstructed by slush and mud, windshield wiper fluid is an important tool during the winter. Check these levels often and use this time to inspect your wipers as well.  

It is a good idea to have back-up containers of these fluids in your vehicle.

Inspect your battery: Cold weather can kill batteries, and could leave you stranded. Inspect your car battery's wires for cracks and breaks. Inspect the connections for any corrosion and if your battery is three years old or more, get it inspected. 

Check your tires: Think of your tires as the sneakers for your car. If your sneakers are worn down you could slip on the ice. The same thing can happen with little or no tread on your tires. A good way to tell if you have plenty of tread is to place a penny in the grooves. If the top of Lincoln’s head is partially covered then you have enough tread.

Another important tire element to remember is tire pressure.  Every 10 degree change in outside temperature can cause your tire’s pressure to gain or lose one PSI.

Fill ‘er up: It is always wise to keep your gas tank at least half full during the colder months. If your tank is below half, it the chance of a gas line freeze increases. A full gas tank full also ensures that you can stay warmer longer if you become stranded while traveling.

Check your car’s heater and defrost: You may be able to survive quick trips without a working car heater but if the defrost doesn’t work, driving can become dangerous.  During inclement weather, snow and ice can build up fast on your windshield and visibility can disappear rapidly.  Don’t wait until the last minute to get this fixed.

And finally, before you take to the road, remember that one of the best ways to be prepared is to check the road conditions at Kandrive.org or by dialing 511. 

Thanksgiving travel tips

Family, friends and food are great reasons for anyone to take to the road during the Thanksgiving holiday. Studies show that this is the busiest travel time of the year. In order to make it to the dinner table on time, make sure you are prepared by following these tips:

If your destination is far away, make sure that your vehicle is safe to drive. Have the vehicle’s fluids, windshield wipers and tires inspected prior to hitting the road.

Watch the skies. Bad weather can hit suddenly in parts of the country. Take caution when traveling in inclement weather.

Know where you are going before you leave.  Don’t rely solely on GPS.   Print out maps and directions, GPS service may become intermittent and having a backup is never a bad idea.

Make sure everyone is buckled in safely.

Keep your cell phone charged at all times in case of emergencies. If it is not being used for directions, make sure it is safely tucked away. Distracted driving can ruin your dinner plans.

Have an emergency kit handy. Make sure the contents include:

• Battery powered Rradio
• Flashlight
• Blankets for everyone in your car
• Jumper cables
• Fire extinguisher
• First aid kit
• Bottled water
• Snacks
• Maps
• Tire repair kit

Don’t drink and drive and know your limits. If you are tired, upset or ill it is not a good idea to drive. Take a break if needed.

Give yourself extra time to make it to your destination. More travelers on the road mean more traffic congestion. Be patient, the winter holidays are right around the corner and no one appreciates a Grinch.

For up-to-date road conditions check out kandrive.org