Tips for Winter Travel in Rural Areas

It's no secret that things move faster in the city than in the country. Towns like Hamlet, Indiana tend to have a laid back pace as people go about their daily business. Part of it is the comfort with the area and part of it is because of the nature of the area. After all, this is a farming community and try as you like, you can't rush farming. Being able to slow down a bit might be the best advice of all when it comes to winter driving in rural areas. Take a look at some other helpful hints that can make rural winter driving a bit easier to navigate.

Be prepared to stop. You might be able to drive for miles without seeing a stop sign, but the same may not be said of the wildlife. It's not just deer that cross the road, but smaller wildlife as well. Who wants to end up in a ditch because a possum ran out in front of them.

Carpool with 4WD owners. Carpooling is always a good idea. Carpooling in snowy weather with those that are well versed in the art of managing snow with a 4WD is just common sense.

Learn how to drive a 4WD. 4WD is a great tool to have in the winter months, but you also have to learn how to drive it. There really is a bit more to it than just putting it in 4WD and cruising along. For one thing, they make move better in the snow, but they don't stop any faster than anything else.

Stay in the middle. Most people know to try to stay in the middle of the road if possible on back roads. In rural areas with lots of ditches and fields, it's a must. Sometimes ditches on the side of the road are filled in and drifted so that you can't even tell that a ditch is there. You'll know when you hit bottom.

Assume everything is ice. Even if you're driving down the road after the sun has melted some of the snow, you have to assume everything is ice. This is especially true when you're driving next to an open field with no windbreak. When the snows melts it turns to water, then freezes when the temperature drops. It might look like asphalt, but it's not.

Keep a cell phone with you or some type of CB. If you go off the road in a rural area, it could take a while before anyone even notices or before you reach someplace to call from. Cell phones and CB radios can be quite handy in these situations.

Have plenty of gas. Keep your gas tank full so that if you do get stuck you can still stay warm. Make sure the exhaust pipe has plenty of clear room to release into.

Pay attention to your geography. Driving down a road that's surrounded by buildings or trees is a lot different from driving down a road surrounded by open fields. There is nothing to slow the wind down so there will be plenty of drifts and a possible extreme temperature drop that will change road conditions. The force of the wind alone could pose a driving hazard.

Listen to people that live in the area. You might know a shortcut but the people that live there are more familiar with the hazards of the road during this time of year.

Be prepared. No matter where you're traveling, make sure you have all ofwinter essentials in your car or truck!