Using common sense in winter means staying safe, not sorry Published Dec. 8, 2011 By Karen Abeyasekere 100th Air Refueling Wing Public Affairs RAF MILDENHALL, England -- With winter starting to descend, the weather is gradually worsening as foggy, icy mornings and evenings are becoming more common. Slick roads and snow forecast in the next few months show safety is paramount; whether driving a vehicle, riding a motorcycle or simply walking. "It's important to drive smart," said Tech. Sgt. Natalie Turner, 100th Air Refueling Wing ground safety office NCO in charge. "During hazardous conditions, don't drive if you don't have to, but when you are going to, leave early to allow extra time. Also, put extra distance between you and the car ahead of you, to allow more time to react to possible hazards such as black ice or vehicles suddenly braking." Drivers need to remember on foggy mornings that travelling with no headlights on, or just side lights, makes vehicles a target for disaster. Turner said that for everyone's safety, during even the slightest hint of fog, rain, inclement weather or limited visibility [such as when it starts getting dark in the afternoon or is still dark in the mornings on the way to work] headlights should be fully on- but not high beams. With no lights on, it's often difficult to see vehicles completely, making them a hazard to everyone. She added that during very hazardous weather, road conditions often change and delayed reporting may be authorized or schools may be closed. Current weather conditions for RAF Mildenhall can be found either on the base website at www.mildenhall.af.mil or by calling 01638 543541, or DSN 238-3541. The 100th ARW Safety office recommends saving the number into cell phones. Base members can also register for automatic text messages from the command post via government computers. Along the bottom menu bar on the screen, click on the hidden icons, then right-click on the purple, round icon (states 'RAF Mildenhall:powered by AtHoc'), Access Self-Service, then fill in the required phone numbers under the 'Devices' tab. Next, go to the 'My Info' tab and check the box marked 'Road Condition/School Delay/Delayed Reporting' and save. Please note that standard text messaging rates may apply. When having to drive in hazardous weather, it's important to ensure vehicles are winter-ready. "Preparing your vehicle is the key to staying safe in the winter months," said Turner. "Check the fluids, and make sure your vehicle has antifreeze, replace wiper blades if necessary and keep a survival kit in your car." In the survival kit, key items that are helpful in the event of an emergency include: · ice scraper · flashlight · first aid kit · reflective gear Also consider having a cell phone at all times, because most phones still have the facility to contact emergency services, even when there is no service. "The biggest thing that people can do to stay safe is to make sure their tires are equipped to deal with black ice, puddles and pot holes in the road," said Turner. "Tire maintenance is paramount to keeping control of your vehicle in an unforeseen situation. Get your tires rotated and balanced, and replace them if they're worn, bald or otherwise damaged." The ground safety NCOIC stressed the importance of driving slowly on icy and hazardous roads. "Just because the speed limit says '60 mph,' doesn't mean that's the speed you need to go," she said. "You should always drive for the weather and road conditions."