Winter safety on and off the roads

Editor's Note: This is the fourth in a four-part series of articles designed to generate awareness and provide helpful safety tips during the winter.

The unexpected unseasonable weather patterns throughout early and mid-December were a much-needed welcome to most drivers at Joint Base Myer-Henderson Hall, but unexpected events on the roadway - not so much. Experts caution drivers to prepare now for bad weather.

This could explain why all 17 vehicle bays inside the JBM-HH Auto Crafts Skills Center were filled with vehicles since mid-October with active duty drivers, their spouses, reservists and retirees. Drivers who were doing preventative maintenance on their vehicles to save considerable time and money in preventative maintenance.

"You've got to inspect your vehicle," said retired U.S. Navy Senior Chief Petty Officer Mark Fiumara. "The off-base dealers - they don't fix the problems, they throw parts at the problems when they find them - I'm a bit of a fanatic and come here often, do it myself and save 50 to 75 percent on overall costs."

Auto center Manager Milton Hawthorne, who has assisted Fiumara and other drivers for 16 years with do-it-yourself repairs, offered to give Pentagram readers a step-by-step guide to winterizing their vehicles and conducting sound preventative maintenance.

"A lot of folks just get in their vehicle, hit the gas pedal and drive," Hawthorne said. "But anything can happen on the road."

Do-it-yourself vehicle inspection

Step 1: Maintenance checks

"Check your engine, serpentine belt, hoses, brakes, and your wiper blades," Hawthorne said.

And for the serpentine belt, for example, Hawthorne said to thoroughly inspect for cracks, tears and abrasions.

"That belt runs everything-the water pump, alternator, power steering-if that belt breaks you're not going anywhere," he said.

Step 2: Check vehicle fluids

"Inspect all your fluids," Hawthorne said, including antifreeze, transmission fluid, brake fluid, power steering fluid, and non-freezing windshield wiper fluid.

Step 3: Check your oil

Hawthorne warns, "Ensure you have oil in your vehicle, enough of it and know whether or not you need to change it."

Drivers should be familiar with the vehicle manufacturer's recommendation of when to change the oil; usually 3,000 miles for vehicles using conventional oil and 6,000 to 7,500 for vehicles using synthetic oil, according to Hawthorne. Failure to change your vehicle's oil is rough on the engine and could prevent vehicles from functioning properly.

Step 4: Check your tires

"Look at your wear pattern on your tires and make sure there's adequate tread-if you have bald tires-prepare to get zero traction and slide," Hawthorne said.

All-season tires are considered safe for drivers in the National Capital Region during the winter, but snow tires are better, according to Hawthorne. Also, be sure to have the correct amount of air pressure in your tire. A failure to do so could add unnecessary wear and tear.

"Look inside the front driver-side door, a label will tell you what your vehicle's tire pressure [Pounds per Square Inch] should be," Hawthorne said. Also, not all vehicles require that all four tires should have the same PSI; front and rear tire pressure could vary, he said.

Step 5: Check your air filter

A dirty air filter could pose a risk to the performance of your vehicle's heat system, and a risk to the driver, according to Hawthorne.

"You might be inhaling mold," he said.

Step 6: Check your lights

Visually inspect all vehicle lights. "Make sure your headlights work, brake lights, and emergency flashers," Hawthorne said.

Step 7: Check your trunk

In addition to a temporary spare tire, your trunk should be packed with a roadside emergency kit: road flares, jumper cables, first aid kit, shovel, ice scraper, flashlight, batteries, blanket, food and water, according to Hawthorne.

Winter driving safety

JBM-HH Safety's Ron Foster wants to remind all drivers in the National Capital Region to be prepared for the unexpected on the roadway this winter. In addition to winterizing vehicles, the U.S. Army Combat Readiness Center offers these tips:

- Prepare to drive in adverse weather: Know what type of vehicle brakes you have and what your brakes will do to avoid skids and wheel lock-up.

- Plan your route: Check the weather and adjust arrival and departure times accordingly.

- Prevent accidents: Slow down and drive according to road and weather conditions. Increase the distance between your vehicle and other vehicles. On normal, dry pavement, the following distance is three to four seconds; it should be increased to eight to 10 seconds in inclement weather.

- Prep for driving in the snow: Accelerate and decelerate slowly. Vehicles function slower on snow-covered pavement; to include accelerating, turning and stopping.

- Prep for driving in snow, uphill: Don't power up hills, let inertia gained on flatter ground carry your vehicle up a hill, and reduce speed at the crest of the hill, and reduce it further as the vehicle proceeds downward. And avoid stopping as your vehicle maneuvers hills.

For more information visit https://safety.army.mil.