SENIOR-WISE KICKS OFF WITH HIGHWAY PATROL WINTER DRIVING TIPS

Click here to view Trooper Bruning's entire presentation on You Tube

               (Casper, WY) -- Now is the time to get your vehicles ready for winter weather. That's the advice from Trooper Adam Bruning of the Wyoming Highway Patrol, who was the initial guest speaker for Senior-Wise, the new program which began Tuesday, September 30, at the Casper Senior Center. He shared five key areas to check before the bad weather begins.

                "Check your tires," Trooper Bruning advised. "Make sure they're in good shape; they're only the width of your hand but they keep your vehicle secure on the road. They need to be properly inflated and there needs to be adequate tread." The next four on the list of items to check -- wiper blades, defroster, headlights and windows -- concern visibility. "Look at your wiper blades to see that they're able to remove snow and slush from your windshield and rear windows," said Trooper Bruning, "and make sure your front and rear defrosters work properly. Finally, before you begin driving, clear snow away from your headlights. You need to be able to see but you also need to make sure other drivers can see you."

                Trooper Bruning also stressed the importance of making sure your vehicle's fluids are topped off, especially the antifreeze and gas. "Antifreeze keeps your vehicle functioning properly," he said, "and if you let your gas gauge fall below half a tank you're looking for trouble."

                He also suggested keeping a survival kit in the trunk and keep it stocked with non-perishable foods, matches, candles, blankets, a first aid kit and shovel. "These are good items to keep in your vehicle all year," he said, "because you can have a break down in July just as easily as you can in January."

                Now that your vehicle is in good working order and you're prepared for emergencies, Trooper Bruning shared several safe driving tips. Under ideal driving conditions -- which include daylight driving with good visibility and dry pavement -- he said you should allow a three second following distance from the vehicle ahead of you. But during night driving or poor visibility, or for snow and ice you need to add one second to your following distance for each of those. Turning off cruise-control will help you maintain control of your vehicle during bad weather driving conditions.

                "98% of all accidents could be avoided by reducing speed," he cautioned. "With the new 80 mph highway speed limit in Wyoming your vehicle is traveling 119 feet per second -- that's the length of a football field in two and a half seconds." He also told local seniors that there's no minimum speed limit on Wyoming highways. "If you're not comfortable driving faster than 65 or even 55, it perfectly okay to keep your speed down."

                Trooper Bruning concluded by noting that Wyoming driving conditions are always available on line at wyoroad.info. Web cams posted on highways and interstates give motorists immediate information on area driving conditions.

                Senior-Wise is held Tuesday afternoons at 12:30 at the Casper Senior Center, 1831 East 4th Street in Casper.