Tipp of the Week: Winter driving tips

Hello Tipp City!   Marc the Cop here. The temperatures are dropping! It is time to start embracing the colder temperatures, so you know what that means? We need to talk about some winter driving “Tipps!”

Here are a few things to remember:

• If you have to park your car outside, allow yourself enough time to enable your vehicle to warm up before driving.

• Be sure your windshield is free of frost or whatever precipitation has fallen overnight. Not only the windshield but make sure the rear and side glass are clear also.

• Take an extra moment to be sure your headlights and taillights are visible in the event of overnight snow.

• Please remember to secure your vehicle while allowing it to warm up. Most cars and trucks use a key fob and have a remote start that keeps the vehicle secure and prevents someone from taking it while it warms up. Check your local laws and ordinances if you are unsure if you can allow your car to sit in the driveway running, and never leave a vehicle running in the garage.

Let us also take a moment to talk about leaving the vehicle running at the convenience store. Just don't do it!! There was a rash of motor vehicle thefts a few years ago, where the unaware citizen was leaving their car running at the gas pumps. They entered the station to pay for fuel or grab a drink, and a thief took the car before the driver could enter the building. As my mother used to say, "An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure." In that theme, the ounce of prevention is to secure your vehicle, shut it off, and lock the doors. Then get whatever items you may need. Officers work hard to keep you safe. However, law enforcement needs you to meet them halfway and take the initiative to secure your vehicles. For that five minutes of convenience, it will take about 40 hours of investigation to resolve the vehicle theft.

With the colder temperatures, plan on a contingency. The weather can turn from sunshine to snow in the afternoon. Prepare a little by keeping some items in the car that may help if the weather turns bad on the drive home. 

• Keep a bundle of cold-weather gear in your car, such as extra food and water, warm clothing, a flashlight, a glass scraper, blankets, medications, and more.

• Make sure your tires are correctly inflated and have plenty of tread.

• Keep at least half a tank of fuel in your vehicle at all times.

• Do not use cruise control when driving on any slippery surface such as on ice and snow.

• The effects of cold weather on electric cars include a faster battery drain when using the cabin heater, which reduces your driving range. To get the maximum range for your electric vehicle in cold weather, warm it up while it's still plugged in — for about 5-10 minutes.

We will discuss more driving tips in next week's Tipp of the Week.

That's it for this week! Please be safe, care for one another, and I'll see you in church on Sunday!

Sgt. Marc Basye (Ret.)

The opinions and statements in this column are those of the author and are not affiliated with any law enforcement agency. This column is for entertainment purposes only. Persons referred to may be fictional for comedic purposes only.