With only three days left until Thanksgiving break, most students are starting to make mental plans for their trip home. Carpool lists are being created, bags are being packed, shopping lists are being written.
Preparing for winter travel is one of the things that can slip students” minds. It is important in states like Idaho to always be aware of the weather.
Take a moment to look at the seven-day forecast before leaving Moscow and also take time to look up the road conditions along the route home. Sometimes the weather forecast won”t reflect when there is ice on the highways or in what areas there will be snow on the ground.
If the weather seems like it will be bad for driving, it is always possible, and usually the smarter choice, to delay the trip home for a day. Be flexible.
Students should let someone at the other end of the trip know when they leave. This way, family and friends know when they are set to arrive and when to call for help if they don”t make it there safely.
While driving during the winter, it is important to take the trip cautiously, and that might mean driving slower than many college students are used to. A few extra hours home aren”t worth losing a life or getting injured.
Putting non-perishable food, water and blankets in the car is also a good idea in the event that the drive home results in a slide off the road or a flat tire. Chains are also a helpful item to have in the trunk in the case of extreme weather. Preparation during this time of year, and again at the end of semester, is important.
It may seem like overkill to have a survival kit in the car for a trip home, but every year students get in car accidents and sometimes students die in these accidents. The University of Idaho community is small enough that one death makes a huge impact, regardless of whether it”s faculty, staff, student or an administrator.
People who have traveled back and forth for years should be especially wary and prepared. Upperclassmen, faculty and staff may think that the trip will be fine because it has been for the last three or four years they”ve done it, but that doesn”t mean they shouldn”t take precautionary steps this time around.
Carpooling is also a great option. For holiday breaks, UI provides a Holiday Break Bus to southern Idaho and Portland. There are plenty of opportunities for students to get home for breaks.
No matter how a student travels, they should take a few extra minutes to prepare for the journey home as well as the journey back to Moscow next weekend. A few extra minutes added to the estimated time of arrival could save a life.
– CW