For the hundreds of students commuting to Indiana University Kokomo, winter weather often makes a routine trip challenging and even risky. IU Kokomo commuter, Josslyn Knox, offers simple and effective strategies to navigate icy roads and snow-covered cars to get to classes on time, such as leaving early, warming up your car, and carrying a windshield scraper.
The challenge is significant for students who drive long distances to campus. Slippery sidewalks, icy roads and less daylight can increase the risk of delays and accidents for those trying to balance early lectures and long drives.
Josslyn Knox, who has commuted to IU Kokomo for three years from Tipton, advises students to include extra time for travelling to campus, warm up their vehicles before leaving, and always keep a dedicated windshield scraper accessible to ensure they arrive at class on time and are prepared for.
Josslyn said she has only been prevented from attending class due to weather about two times in her three years of attending, noting that the university and her professors typically cancel or rearrange lectures for severe winter storms. Her successful preparation for winter centers on effective time management and vehicle readiness.
“I always leave early to give myself enough time to get to class,” she said.
Josslyn also makes sure to start her car a few minutes before leaving to warm it up, and keeps a windshield scraper in her car at all times. “I always make sure to have a windshield scraper to get the snow off my car before or after class.”
Josslyn commutes about 30 minutes from Tipton to the Kokomo campus, and her experience at IU Kokomo has been largely positive. “Parking passes are free, which is great for students who are commuting and don’t have the option of walking to campus.”
By incorporating these practices, students can easily overcome common winter obstacles during their commute. Leaving earlier allows for safer driving speeds in traffic and reduces the chance of skidding on ice, providing a simple way to maintain safety and punctuality throughout the cold season.
