Slipping, Slideing, and Skidding

It’s that time of year again, when the snow and ice make driving a danger for even the most experienced drivers. Seeing as I got my permit just 5 months ago, this will be my first time ever driving on the slippery sleety and sometimes snowy roads, and you could say I'm rather nervous, and I assume most of my peers are as well.

In theme of the quickly coming wintery driving, I decided to write my blog this week about the dangers of driving in the snow and the precautions everyone should take to drive safe. And if you feel that winter driving isn’t a big deal, several studies have shown that 70 percent of winter accidents are automobile related and that your are 36 percent* more likely to have an accident in January compared to July, so it’s important that we all take the proper precautions while driving during this jolly season.

The first step to safe driving is vehicle maintenance. Check tires, get your car maintenance when it needs it, don’t let the little squeaks go unchecked, and get your oil changed regularly.

After reading several other websites, it’s suggested that everyone have an emergency kit in their car so drivers are always prepared for the worst. Some of the most important items to have are:

• Spare tire
• Ice scraper
• De-icers
• Flashlight and extra batteries
• Flares
• Jumper cables
• A small shovel
• Blanket
• Extra cloths and sturdy shoes
• Bottled water
• Non-perishable food
• External phone battery
• Band-aids

(check out this link for more tips, some things were added to this list my mom’s personal emergency kit)

Taking care of your car’s tires is also necessary to be able to drive safely during this slippery slidey season. During this cold season, you should check your tire tread and pressure weekly to make sure things are working correctly.

Reduce your speed and increase your following distance. Ice can be hard to spot and slippery roads can make stopping take longer. Drive smart and be alert during hazardous winter weather. Make sure you have good visibility before you start on the road, which means scraping all your windows fully and eliminating the fog build up.

Breaking in the winter can be tricky so always remember:

If your wheels start to skid…

Remain calm and in control

Keep your eyes on where you want to go, not where your skidding car is heading

Don’t hit the brakes hard

Steer into the skid

After your car is back in control, accelerate slowly and smoothly, this will help your car regain grip

(link)

For us new drivers, it’s important to remember to not be ashamed of being nervous about driving in this new obstacle, and that it’s okay to ask someone to drive you when you’re not comfortable behind the wheel. It’s always better to be safe then to try and be a hero.  

Halloween (PB)

 

Halloween was just a few days ago, and I decided to write this blog because Halloween seems to be a holiday that no one appreciates as much as they should. It seems like everyone has decided Halloween is a holiday for kids under the age of 14 and that it was only created to increase the number of obese children. But after doing some research and reflecting on my own Halloween experiences, I’m here to convince you it’s neither of these things.  

Not many people know the history or the origin of Halloween. First, Halloween, originally, All Hallows Eve is the last day on the Celtic calendar, it was originally a pagan holiday that was a day dedicated to honoring the dead. All Hollows Eve dates back over 2000 years making it one of the oldest holidays celebrated today.

All Hallows Eve also marks the end of summer and harvest, so the Druids, a Celtic people, celebrated this holiday by dressing up as witches, ghosts, goblins, and the like to keep from being possessed by the evil spirits that wandered the world on this day. The also left out crops for the spirits as a gifts, many researchers believe that this was the beginning of trick-or-treating. It is believed Halloween came to America through  the Irish immigrants that fled Ireland during the Potato Famine of 1846.

So now that you know more about Halloween, I ask you, why do many Americans feel that it’s a holiday just for children and candy?

For me Halloween is a great opportunity to spend time with friends. Though many people would say I’m too old, I still dress up and go trick-or-treating every year. Why? Because it’s fun! Getting older doesn’t mean you have to give up on having fun, dressing up a little ridiculously, and eating too much candy!