Negative temperatures and below zero wind chills can make driving dangerous for students and local motorists. With a full plate of class demands, exams, meetings and recreational commitments, it is easy to slip behind the wheel without being fully prepared for what wicked winter fate could bring.

When a tire suddenly goes flat, a battery goes dead or an accident occurs, several important items might save a driver’s life.

“It’s easy to be absent-minded when you’re driving along thinking about other things,” said Iowa State Patrol Sgt. Genie Clemens.

There are some easy tips to remember though that can help if you do end up in a bad situation.

“The most important items for winter driving are blankets and extra clothing,” Clemens said.

“Also, if a breakdown does occur, don’t leave your vehicle. If you are leaving with someone, leave a note with the vehicle of the person you are with, your destination and their license plate number.”

Her suggestions were echoed by Dena Gray-Fisher, spokeswoman for the Iowa Department of Transportation.

“The key thing is to stay with your vehicle,” she said. “We suggest having a winter-survival kit in a Rubbermaid bin filled with extra clothing for each passenger, an ice scraper, and a portable shovel.”

Cautious driving is also a must in winter driving.

“You can help avoid accidents by reducing your speed and leaving plenty of space between you and the cars around,” she said.

Many times, students are in a hurry to get to a destination and in the bitter cold, a simple mental error could result in life-threatening circumstances. Forgetting to fill the tank, leaving gloves and warm clothing behind, or having a low cell phone battery are common mistakes made in the face of busy schedules.

“Always make sure you have a phonebook and jumper cables,” said Mark Linahon, employee at Butch’s Amoco-BP, 100 E. Lincoln Way.

Linahon stressed the importance of letting the car warm up before driving anywhere.

“We see lots of dead batteries in the winter and the weather is very hard on your car,” he said. “It’s important to let your car warm up for at least a few minutes to let the fluid run through, and then let it sit in gear for a minute before driving off,” he said.

Severely cold temperatures and the wintery weather that plagues Iowa during the winter months make it especially important to be prepared when heading to class or hitting the interstate when leaving town.

Before driving away, check fuel and fluid levels, wiper blades and lights. Take note of the weather forecast, and make sure you have a map or two.

Top 10 Most Important items for Winter Driving

1. A cell phone with a charged battery

2. Know your location by mile marker, town, or landmark

3. Have blankets and extra clothing for each passenger (gloves, hats, boots, coats)

4. Drive with a gas tank over half full

5. Bottles of water

6. Candy bars, energy bars, or nut mixes

7. A first aid kit with band-aids and athletic tape

8. A battery operated flashlight

9. Jumper cables

10. A phonebook

– Information supplied by the Iowa State Patrol and the Iowa Department of Transportation