Sounds like Winter Weather is Heading Our Way

With the recent prediction of KC’s first winter precipitation for the season, we want to reassure our Central Patrol Community that your officers are and will continue to be working hard to keep everyone safe.

Please allow extra time to reach your destination as well as make sure all windows are clear of ice and snow that could reduce vision, no “Peep Hole” driving. Driving with Ice or snow covered windows as well as “Peep Hole” driving is a violation of ordinance 70-849a as well as a hazard to the communities’ safety.

Make sure cell phones are fully charged before leaving and don’t rely on the car charger in your vehicle.

Make sure you have a Roadside Assistance and contact list available.

Most of all partners, respect each other, we want everyone to arrive at their destination safely!

Here are a few Extra TIPs to keep you safe during winter driving.

Winterize Your Car

Driving in the winter means snow, sleet and ice that can lead to slower traffic, hazardous road conditions, hot tempers and unforeseen dangers, please plan ahead and allow extra time to reach destination.

Weather
At any temperature -- 20° Fahrenheit below zero or 90° Fahrenheit above -- weather affects road and driving conditions and can pose serious problems. It is important to monitor forecasts on the Web, radio, TV, cable weather channel, or in the daily papers.

Your Car
Prepare your car for winter. Start with a checkup that includes:

• Checking the ignition, brakes, wiring, hoses and fan belts.
• Changing and adjusting the spark plugs.
• Checking the air, fuel and emission filters, and the PCV valve.
• Inspecting the distributor.
• Checking the battery.
• Checking the tires for air, sidewalls wear and tread depth.
• Checking antifreeze levels and the freeze line.

Your car should have a tune-up (check the owner's manual for the recommended interval) to ensure better gas mileage, quicker starts and faster response on pick-up and passing power.

Necessary Equipment
An emergency situation on the road can arise at any time and you must be prepared. In addition to making sure you have the tune-up, a full tank of gas, and fresh anti-freeze, you should carry the following items in your trunk:

• Properly inflated spare tire, wheel wrench and tripod-type jack
• Shovel
• Jumper cables
• Tow and tire chains
• Bag of salt or cat litter
• Tool kit

Essential Supplies
Be prepared with a "survival kit" that should always remain in the car. Replenish after use. Essential supplies include:

• Working flashlight and extra batteries
• Reflective triangles and brightly-colored cloth
• Compass
• First aid kit
• Exterior windshield cleaner
• Ice scraper and snow brush
• Wooden stick matches in a waterproof container
• Scissors and string/cord
• Non-perishable, high-energy foods like unsalted canned nuts, dried fruits, and hard candy.

In addition, if you are driving long distances under cold, snowy, and icy conditions, you should also carry supplies to keep you warm such as heavy woolen mittens, socks, a cap and blankets.

If You Become Stranded...

• Do not leave your car unless you know exactly where you are, how far it is to possible help, and are certain you will improve your situation.
• To attract attention, light two flares and place one at each end of the car a safe distance away. Hang a brightly colored cloth from your antenna.
• If you are sure the car's exhaust pipe is not blocked, run the engine and heater for about 10 minutes every hour or so depending upon the amount of gas in the tank.
• To protect you from frostbite and hypothermia use the woolen items and blankets to keep warm.
• Keep at least one window open slightly. Heavy snow and ice can seal a car shut.
• Eat a hard candy to keep your mouth moist.

Driving safely on icy roads

1. Decrease your speed and leave yourself plenty of room to stop. You should allow at least three times more space than usual between you and the car in front of you.
2. Brake gently to avoid skidding. If your wheels start to lock up, ease off the brake.
3. Turn on your lights to increase your visibility to other motorists.
4. Keep your lights and windshield clean.
5. Use low gears to keep traction, especially on hills.
6. Don't use cruise control or overdrive on icy roads.
7. Be especially careful on bridges, overpasses and infrequently traveled roads, which will freeze first. Even at temperatures above freezing, if the conditions are wet, you might encounter ice in shady areas or on exposed roadways like bridges.
8. Don't pass snow plows and sanding trucks. The drivers have limited visibility, and you're likely to find the road in front of them worse than the road behind.
9. Don't assume your vehicle can handle all conditions. Even four-wheel and front-wheel drive vehicles can encounter trouble on winter roads.

If your rear wheels skid...

1. Take your foot off the accelerator.
2. Steer in the direction you want the front wheels to go. If your rear wheels are sliding left, steer left. If they're sliding right, steer right.
3. If your rear wheels start sliding the other way as you recover, ease the steering wheel toward that side. You might have to steer left and right a few times to get your vehicle completely under control.
4. If you have standard brakes, pump them gently.
5. If you have anti-lock brakes (ABS), do not pump the brakes. Apply steady pressure to the brakes. You will feel the brakes pulse — this is normal.

If your front wheels skid...

1. Take your foot off the gas and shift to neutral, but don't try to steer immediately.
2. As the wheels skid sideways, they will slow the vehicle and traction will return. As it does, steer in the direction you want to go. Then put the transmission in "drive" or release the clutch, and accelerate gently.

If you get stuck...

1. Do not spin your wheels. This will only dig you in deeper.
2. Turn your wheels from side to side a few times to push snow out of the way.
3. Use a light touch on the gas, to ease your car out.
4. Use a shovel to clear snow away from the wheels and the underside of the car.
5. Pour sand, kitty litter, gravel or salt in the path of the wheels, to help get traction.
6. Try rocking the vehicle. (Check your owner's manual first — it can damage the transmission on some vehicles.) Shift from forward to reverse, and back again. Each time you're in gear, give a light touch on the gas until the vehicle gets going.

Increase in Stolen Autos

During the extreme winter months, area law enforcement agencies see an increase in vehicles left running being stolen.

Not only is it tempting to the criminals, but is a violation of city ordinance.

Last year, all crime categories were down in Central Patrol except for Stolen Auto’s. One factor for the increase is vehicles being left running while unoccupied.

City Ordinance 70-251 Prohibits a vehicle from being  left running while unattended without the use of a remote starting device.

Remote starters start the engine, but do not disengage the transmission like when you use a key.

And partners, it doesn’t stop there.

Many insurance companies will not cover losses of vehicles taken while left running since the violation of a city ordinance was a contributing factor in the loss.

To get around this, many victims will give false statements to police regarding the incidents leading up to the theft.

These false statements could lead to charges of filing a false police report to insurance fraud.

I totally understand the challenges of living in a urban setting with many homes not having garages. I just want to make sure everyone is aware of these trends and ordinances and ask you take precautionary measures to prevent yourself from becoming a victim.

Master Patrol Officer James Schriever, CIO, Central Patrol Division, Office 816-759-6313, Cell 816-719-8350

Venessa Huskey

Neighborhood & Community Liaison

City of Kansas City

414 East 12th Street, 4th floor

KCMO 64106

voice: (816) 513-3019

fax: (816) 513-3201

email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it