Richland County Sheriff’s Department For Holiday Travel Make Sure You Plan Ahead! Sheriff Leon Lott extends the warmest wishes and the best for this holiday season. During this time of year, Sheriff Leon Lott asks you to stay alert to your surroundings and follow these holiday safety tips for your protection: • If planning a road trip over the holidays, have your vehicle serviced and checked out sufficiently far ahead to allow for repairs if needed. • Don’t forget to have the mechanic check your spare tire and all fluid levels along with the other preventive maintenance procedures. • Consider keeping spare fuses and a breakdown kit in your vehicle at all times. • Breakdown kits may be purchased from a variety of sources, or you can assemble your own at any auto parts or hardware store using a commercial version as a guideline. • If traveling by vehicle, know where you are going and how to get there and back. • Obtain a map or download the latest available GPS data. • Inform a family member where you will be and when to expect you back; give them your route if they dont know it. • Travel and conduct your business during daylight hours if possible. • Select well-traveled and lighted thoroughfares. Bear in mind that routes which are congested during rush hour may be very lightly traveled at other hours. • Use freeways and arterial streets and avoid less-traveled roads as much as possible, especially when driving at night or in unfamiliar locations. • When driving, keep doors locked and windows rolled up at all times. • NEVER pick up hitchhikers! • Maintain at least half a tank of fuel, and keep vehicle in good repair. • Check for construction detours; for longer trips, get a weather forecast. • If traveling out-of-state, most states and/or state law enforcement agencies provide road-and-highway information either on-line or at a 1-800 number • Check to see what conditions they report before leaving. Visit the Federal Highway Administrations related webpage... National Traffic and Road Closure Information fhwa.dot.gov/trafficinfo/index.htm For national, regional, and state-by-state links regarding traffic, closures, and other conditions. Minimally a “breakdown kit” should include: -a thermal blanket/bag and a gallon of water -a “HELP” sign/flag and flares/reflectors -a flashlight (check batteries semi-annually) -duct tape Also consider carrying: -a set of jumper cables, a tire gauge, and work gloves -a few hand tools (pliers, screwdrivers, Allen wrenches) -some rope and at least one bungee cord -towels and a roll of toilet paper (in a plastic bag) -a small 12-volt tire inflator -an empty (new, never used) one-gallon gas can • All these items can fit in a small or medium size gym/duffle bag or a box and kept in your vehicles trunk, back-seat floorboard, or other storage area in the vehicle. • Keep it updated, but never remove it from your vehicle. • In addition to your basic breakdown kit you should also have a basic first aid kit in your vehicle at all times. • Also consider purchasing and mounting a small ABC-rated portable fire extinguisher in your vehicle. • Buy one with a mount designed for use in vehicles. Portable fire extinguishers should be securely mounted in the vehicle to prevent rolling and damage. • The extinguisher should be visible and easy to reach. Mount the bracket on a strong, stable surface. It can be mounted in any sloping, vertical or horizontal position. For more holidays safety tips please contact the Richland County Sheriff’s Department Community Action Team at (803) 576-3191
Posted on: Fri, 19 Dec 2014 15:27:53 +0000
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