Winter is Coming
As we progress further and further into the semester, there is something that we all must keep in mind if you work off campus or if you’re going to be traveling home for the holidays. And that is, the weather will soon become everyone’s worst enemy. So what are some ways to ensure that you’re prepared to travel for Thanksgiving or Christmas Break? Here are a few things worth planning for, along with helpful links.
- If you’re traveling in your own vehicle, always make sure that you have the best tires on your vehicle that you can. If you are unable to afford winter tires, your next best option is to just make sure that your tires are filled with air, you don’t have any leeks, and your tires are not balding. The last thing that you need while traveling is to hit a patch of black ice and to start sliding across the highway! Another tip is adding sandbags in your vehicle. You can find these at local ACE or Home Depot stores. Learn about this tip and more here.
- While traveling with others or in your own vehicle, the likelihood of your vehicle getting stuck is slim, but there is still a chance so always pack your vehicle with some essentials just in case. Some of the items you should have in the back of your vehicle include blankets, a winter coat, hat and gloves, a first aid kit, jumper cables, an ice scraper, some non-perishable foods and water, and some extra clothes.
- If you are traveling anywhere, always make sure that your car is filled up with gas. The last thing you want to do is to make a wrong turn somewhere and must turn back around, but you run out of gas because you didn’t fill up your tank all the way. That should always be a must if you’re traveling anywhere at any time of year. You may also want to think about roadside assistance plans. AAA provides college student discounts. Learn about this here. Perhaps think about asking Santa, if you've been good, for Christmas!
- Be patient with other drivers when traveling. You never know when it’s a person’s first time traveling on the roads and is dealing with the snow-covered roads and watching out for black ice (which is nearly impossible if you’re not paying close enough attention).
- Check the weather ahead of time. If you haven’t already, download the Wyoming 511 app onto your phone, it gives you updates every day of the year and will let you know how the road conditions are and if the roads are closed not. If the notes aren’t enough, you can also check the cameras that they have placed along most of the roads to see how the roads are looking.
The moral of the story is not letting the weather get the best of you and always make sure that you’re safe when you’re traveling. And most importantly, DON’T TEXT AND DRIVE! Hope everyone has safe travels when traveling for Thanksgiving and Christmas Break!
