WHP Lieutenant gives tips to winterize your vehicle 

Winter in Wyoming can make for dangerous travel on the Interstate and highways. Wyoming Highway Patrol Lieutenant Erik Jorgensen has some tips to help drivers reach their destination more safely and a little easier. 

Jorgensen said the chances of being stranded or waiting on Wyoming roadways for an accident to be cleared increase during the winter season. The WHP Lieutenant suggested that being prepared to wait long periods in your vehicle during cold weather is just as important as taking precautions to stay on the road.  

Lt. E. Jorgensen

Get Your Car Serviced

Visit your mechanic for a tune-up and ask them to check for leaks, badly worn hoses, or other needed parts, repairs, and replacements. Change the oil and other fluids. 

Know Your Car

Read your vehicle’s manual to familiarize yourself with the safety features on your vehicle—such as anti lock brakes and electronic stability control—and how the features perform in wintry conditions. When renting a car, become familiar with the vehicle before driving it off the lot.

Stock Your Vehicle

Carry items in your vehicle to handle common winter driving-related tasks, and supplies you might need in an emergency, including:

Snow shovel, broom, and ice scraper;

Abrasive material such as sand or kitty litter, in case your vehicle gets stuck in the snow;

Jumper cables, flashlight, and warning devices such as flares and emergency markers; 

Blankets for protection from the cold;

A cell phone with charger, water, food; 

Any necessary medicine (for longer trips or when driving in lightly populated areas).