• Home
  • News
    • Politics & Government
    • Business & Economy
    • Crime / Courts
    • Health / Medicine
  • Sports
    • High School Sports
    • Radio Iowa Poll
  • Affiliates
    • Affiliate Support Page
  • Contact Us
    • Reporters

Radio Iowa

Iowa's Radio News Network

You are here: Home / Weather / Winter weather calls for sharpening of driving skills

Winter weather calls for sharpening of driving skills

January 13, 2005 By admin

Dennis Burkheimer, Winter Operations Administrator for the state of Iowa, says some poeple may discover they’ve taken for granted that some kinds of vehicles give them an edge in winter driving. Burkheimer says they think with 4-wheel-drive vehicles or SUVs they’ll have an advantage over everyone else, but the professionals have already discovered that “when you’re on ice there’s virtually nothing that’s going to help you stop.” He recommends putting on your headlights so it’s easier for other drivers to see you. He’s seen what can happen in bad weather, and also recommends slowing down and buckling up, all the “traditional type warnings.” Burkheimer says if it looks like the pavement in front of you looks wet, it may be partly ice…and he recommends acting as if it’s slippery. Listen to weather forecasts and road reports, he advises, and drive cautiously. With front-wheel-drive, most of the weight of the engine is over the wheels doing the moving of the vehicle and will give you increased traction, whereas with a rear-wheel drive vehicle the wheels are more likely to spin on a slippery spot. And in his own personal car, the DOT’s director of winter operations says he carries a shovel, sand and a good window-scraper.

Share this:

  • Facebook
  • Twitter

Filed Under: Weather Tagged With: Department of Transportation, Transportation

Featured Stories

Iowa State Patrol tactical team leader killed in Grundy Center stand-off

Finalists chosen for the state’s top burger

Paintings by Clinton woman gain a following in Europe

Iowa deadline for individual income taxpayers moved to June 1

Dialing rules changing for two area codes in Iowa

TwitterFacebook
Tweets by RadioIowa

Iowa State adds Minnesota transfer

Cedar Rapids preparing for big return of sports events

Iowa Games returning with full slate of sports

Iowa’s Garza sweeps national awards

Iowa’s Garza claims three national awards

More Sports

eNews and Updates

Enter your email address:

Delivered by FeedBurner

Archives

Copyright © 2021 ยท Learfield News & Ag, LLC