Dashing through the coming snow

Mention living in Buffalo to people who have never been here and you can usually count on the same old wisecracks: "Cold enough for ya?" "Hope you like snow." "Better bring your snow boots."

As many returning UB students are quick to point out, winter in Buffalo is no joke. For every snow-hater, there is someone who looks forward to those first flakes, but driving to campus or even walking to class can make haters out of almost anyone.

Whichever you are, 'tis the season these November days to stock up on winter clothes, hot chocolate and tomato soup, and also take some important steps towards getting around in the upcoming wintry weather.

Winterizing your snowmobile

For commuters, the car is the key to getting to and from school, so making sure a vehicles is prepared for the changing temperatures and weather conditions is a must if it's going to remain in good working conditions throughout the winter.

One option, if you have the funds, is to purchase snow tires.

"Make sure that they have decent tread on their tires, which would be 5/32nds in tread depth," said Samantha Sywak, a Wal-Mart Automotive representative. "They want it to be a decent tread, anything less that that won't be good. They will spin their tires and won't go anywhere, and it will be hard to drive."

Many students who have been through winter hell and back have their own routines.

"I usually get my car inspected and belts changed, take more hours at work (to help pay) for heating costs and unpack winter clothes," said Kenny Hsu, a senior history major.

But there are still always the basics: drivers should also make sure they perform routine maintenance to assure their car will survive the winter.

"If they haven't done it yet, they should take care of the basics, like an oil change and a coolant change especially," Mooney said. "We have some very cold nights so you want to make sure your antifreeze is fresh so it minimizes the chance of freezing."

Students should also check their transmission fluid and make sure everything's in top running condition, Sywak said.

Especially for students who drive trucks, Mooney recommends keeping some sort of weight in the back of their vehicle.

"It helps if you keep a bag of sand or kitty litter in the back," Mooney said. "The weight helps maintain rear wheel traction, and it also provides a granular substance to put under your tires if you're having trouble getting out of a parking space or over icy surfaces."

Students should also keep certain materials in the car in case of an emergency.

"They should have an emergency kit with jumper cables, a flash light, a small shovel, reflective signs and a blanket or a warm set of additional clothing in the car," Mooney said. "Most students driving to class probably dress as they'd appear in class. They probably don't prepare for problems traveling, so I'm sure they'd like to have extra clothes or blankets in the event that they're stuck in the cold."

First and foremost, however, students should remember their safety when traveling during the winter.

"We encourage students to keep safety as their first priority," Austin said. "You can't predict what the weather will be like, so they should be prepared for everything to ensure that they arrive to campus safely and on time."

Walking in a winter wonderland

One of the most important things students need to do is to prepare for changes in their transportation schedule. As a general rule, whether you're walking to class or driving between campuses, students will need to add extra time into their day to get where they're going.

"Planning time is key to making sure you allow enough time to safely get your vehicle at a temperature where the windows are defrosting," said Chris Austin, adjudication and transportation coordinator for Parking and Transportation. "More importantly is allowing enough time to get to campus early so you can find a legit space in the parking lot."

Winter weather also can be counted on to create bussing delays.

"It's similar to if you're commuting from home," Austin said. "Students should plan ahead and know that when there is a storm or snow on the ground, buses have to slow down a bit and account for safety, making sure that's their top priority."

Students, especially those who plan on driving, should also allow for extra travel time in the interest of safety when wintry weather descends.

"Giving oneself enough time to take a trip is extremely important," said Rick Mooney, assistant supervisor for driver programs at AAA. "It's going to take longer in wintry conditions, so travelers need to budget that time. Beyond that, extra time is necessary to clear off snow and ice. Again, that needs to be budgeted. So you're adding time not just for the slower trip but also to clean the car off."

And not only will the trip take longer if the roads are slick, drivers should take their time so they don't put themselves or other drivers in danger.

"Generally, driving should be slower for conditions," Mooney said. "Winter conditions result in less traction which results in a greater possibility for loss of control. Driving slower and doing things more gradually, like braking, turning or accelerating, gives drivers more of a chance of maintaining control in less-than-optimal situations."

"Keep a good space between your car and the car ahead of you," Mooney also advises. "If you're driving in less than optimal traffic conditions, you may need extra space for maneuvers if the vehicle in front of you has problems.

"There's no reason you need to be kissing someone's bumper on the road," he added.