Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Odds are, if you're in Wisconsin in the winter you're going to be driving in the stuff.
Still,eventhehardiestwinterdriversneedtopracticeprudence.Ifyou'reanoviceatwinter
driving, don't learn it on the road, especially on a crowded highway at dawn or dusk.
Ruleone:It'simportant toslowdown.Becautious onbridges,evenwhentherestofthe
pavementisOK;bridgesarealwaysslippery.Incontrolledskidsoniceandsnow,takeyour
foot off the accelerator and steer into the direction of the skid. Follow all owner's manu-
al advice if your car is equipped with an anti-lock braking system (ABS). Most cars come
equipped with all-season radials, so snow tires aren't usually necessary. Tire chains are il-
legal in Wisconsin.
During nighttime snowstorms, keep your lights on low beam. If you get stuck, check
your owner's manual for the advisability of “rocking” the car; be sure to keep the front
wheels cleared
and pointed straight ahead.
Do not race the engine; you'll just spin your
wheels into icy ruts. Winterize your vehicle. Most important, carry an emergency kit in-
cludinganythingyoumayneedtospendthenightinasnowbank(Ican'ttellyouhowmany
people have learned this the hard way in a blizzard that's trapped them on an interstate for
10 hours.)
And please, if you see someone hung up in a snowbank, stop and help push him or her
out.
The Department of Transportation's website (
dot.state.wi.us
)
updates winter driving
conditions from November to late March four times daily. You can also call the state's toll-
free roads hotline at 511 on your mobile phone (Iowa and Minnesota also participate in the
program; Illinois and Michigan are getting on board)—it's a brilliant service.
Wind Chill and Frostbite
The most dangerous part of winter in Wisconsin is the wind-chill factor—the biting effect
of wind, which makes cold colder and more lethal. For example, when the temperature is
30°F, with a wind of 40 mph the temperature is actually -6°F; if the temperature were 0°F,
40 mph winds would make it -54°F—the point at which it's no longer a joke how cold a
Wisconsin winter is.
When the wind chill takes temperatures low enough, exposed skin is in immediate
danger.LotsofBadgersstillremember oneseriouscaseoffrostbite(probablyfrostnip)that
they swear they can still feel today when the weather changes. The most serious cases of
frostbite—you'veseenphotosofmountainclimberswithblackearsanddigits—canrequire
amputation.
Worse, without proper clothing, you're at risk for
hypothermia.
