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How To Make Driving In Inclement Weather Safe
How to make driving in inclement weather more safe
Impaired visibility can be a safety hazard while driving. Everything from sun glare to hail can affect a driver’s ability to see the road and navigate it effectively. Before drivers get behind the wheel, they should make note of their local forecast and make a plan for what to do if rain, snow or other conditions make it challenging to drive.
The International Association of Traffic and Safety Sciences indicates that, based on an examination of crash test data conducted by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the “likelihood of a crash increases during periods of low visibility, despite the tendency for less traffic and for lower speeds to prevail during these times.”
Drivers can take several steps to improve their visibility when driving in poor weather conditions.
• Inspect and change windshield wiper blades. Wipers are instrumental in clearing precipitation away from the windshield. If they’re not functioning properly, wipers cannot do their jobs. Drivers should replace their wipers at the first indication that they are no longer effective. In some conditions, wipers can freeze or stick. Drivers should then pull over and clean the wipers manually.
• Clear obstructions. Always make sure the windshield is clear before driving. This can include removing ice and snow in the winter and cleaning off mud or bug splatter in the spring and summer. Use
the front and rear defrost if condensation fogs up windshields and windows.
• Slow down. Foul weather can reduce drivers’ ability to see far into the distance. Drivers should always drive slower in inclement weather in order to improve reaction time.
• Top off fluids. Always keep the windshield washer reservoir full and keep extra fluid in the trunk. In addition, look for a fluid that does not freeze in very cold temperatures.
• Learn how to drive in fog. Each year, more than 38,700 vehicle crashes occur in fog, states the Federal Highway Administration. Travelers Insurance recommends slowing down, staying focused and using regular headlights and not high beams when driving in fog.
• Go out only if necessary. In snowy or icy conditions, drive only if it’s absolutely necessary, as snow and ice can impair visibility and make roads slick, says AAA.
• Avoid driving at dusk and dawn. The human eye can have trouble adjusting to rapidly changing light and darkness conditions, which are common at dusk and dawn. If possible, drivers should make trips during the heart of the day, especially if poor lighting conditions typically make it difficult for them to drive.
Drivers can take steps to improve visibility when inclement weather makes roadways hard to navigate.
Tips for a Stress-Free Tax Season
Taxes are an unavoidable fact of life. Unfortunately, they can be somewhat overwhelming, which can cause people to put the task off and miss the deadline. Use these tips for a stress-free tax season:
Get It Over With
The sooner you get your taxes filed, the sooner you can stop worrying about them. Early filing also means an earlier refund -- if you’re due one -- or time to plan to prepare to pay any owed taxes. To ensure it all happens on time, actually block out time in your calendar to sit down and work on your taxes. Be sure not to underestimate how much time is needed. If your situation has gotten more complicated over the last year, figure that into the equation.
Check Your Work
The last thing anybody wants to hear is that they are being audited. You can avoid this anxiety by having the right tools on hand. Start by keeping your records filed in an organized way – both digitally and on paper with a filing cabinet that locks. As you do your taxes, it is a good idea to take your time, and do a practice run. A printing calculator is a good way to keep records of all necessary calculations. Be sure your printing calculator is up to the task. The two-color ink printer of Casio’s HR-170RC allows you to quickly see both positive and negative numbers to avoid reading errors, and its 12-digit LCD display showcases crisp, sharp numbers for easy viewing. A must-have tool for tax season, its functions include a grand total key, cost/sell/ margin buttons, sign change, tax calculation, decimal selector and more.
Maximize Your Refund
While many people look forward to their tax refund and view it as a windfall, it is important to keep in mind that this money is simply your own income that you overpaid to the state and federal government throughout the year. That said, you should have a smart plan for your refund wisely so that is not wasted on an impulse purchase. A few good ideas for tax refunds is investing the money into a retirement account, using it to pay down debt or padding out your rainy-day fund.
This tax season, don’t get overwhelmed. For stress-free filing, stay organized and give yourself plenty of time. (StatePoint)
Enjoy more time outdoors (even when it’s cold)
The amount of time people spend outdoors has dramatically decreased, as the Environmental Protection Agency now reports the average American spends 87 percent of his or her time in a residence, school building or workplace.
Being outside is linked to better moods, more physical activity and less exposure to contaminants (concentrations of some pollutants are often two to five times higher indoors). Also, people who spend time outside may not come into contact with surface germs or develop various illnesses spread as often as those who spend a lot of time indoors.
Cold weather can make the desire to be outside less appealing, but it is important for one’s mental and physical well-being to get outside. The following activities might coax people outside for some crisp air. creature can be molded from snow and embellish landscapes. Use food-grade coloring in spray bottles to added even more creative flair to snow designs.
in winter. White-washed hills can be beautiful to behold, and many small animals and birds look even more vivid against the white backdrop of snow.
Create snow critters
Why do snowmen and women get all of the fanfare this time of year? Just about any living or fictional
Go on a nature hike
While many plants and animals hibernate in winter, there is still plenty to see. Bring along a sketch book or camera and capture nature
Buddy up for safety
Make an obstacle course
Turn an area of the yard or park into a homemade obstacle course. It’s much more difficult, — and a great workout — to try to jump over snow mounds or run down paths when decked out in warm layers. Engage in lighthearted competitions with friends and family members.
Build a bonfire
Children can set off in different directions to gather up firewood to craft a bonfire with adults in a safe location. S’mores taste equally delicious whether it’s warm or cold outside, and in winter they can be accompanied by toasty mugs of cocoa.
Get sporty
Sledding, skating, snowshoeing, and ice hockey are just a few of the winter sports that can get the heart pumping and muscles working outside. These activities are entertaining and also great exercise.
When venturing outdoors in winter, dress in layers. This way clothing can be put on or taking off to reduce the likelihood of hypothermia.
The buddy system is a popular and effective safety measure. The “buddy system” involves teaming up with a partner to prevent the safety risks of being alone. Both parties are then responsible for ensuring the other person’s safety.
The buddy system is effective in various situations. For example, someone who works in a remote location or with hazardous substances can benefit from having a teammate nearby in the event something goes awry. That buddy can then call for help or even administer help on his or her own. Office fire evacuation plans often pair employees up so that each is responsible for making sure the other has evacuated and reached safety. In that instance, the buddy system reduces confusion and makes for a more organized system.
The buddy system also may be utilized in emergencies or instances when there is increased risk for injury, such as during a natural disaster or while engaging in certain risky activities. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says that buddies can each look out for hazardous conditions, safety demands and stressors. Buddies can be utilized when a person is swimming, surfing, hiking, biking, or camping in the wilderness.
Many schools also utilize buddy systems so that students are never alone. This is handy during school trips or when students are not on campus. The buddy system helps instill a sense of responsibility. Buddies help make sure their partners get back on the bus and are accounted for when there may not be enough adult chaperones.
Children who walk home from school or wait at a bus stop may be paired with a buddy for increased safety against strangers and other hazards. The Holts Summit Police Department in Missouri says that a child alone could become a much easier target if a predator drove by than if a child were with a buddy or in a group.
Buddies can be a friend, an older sibling or an adult approved by parents or guardians. Buddies also may be friends who are asked along when another wants to enjoy a night out on the town or use a rideshare
Buddies can be invaluable, offering assistance, performing first aid or calling for help in emergency situations.
or taxi service, but wants to minimize the risks that could arise if he or she goes it alone.
Using the buddy system can make various situations safer than going it alone, even for adults.
Did You Make A New Year’sResolution To Learn Something New In 2020?
Why Not Learn An Instrument?
