The holiday season usually marks the start of snow, slush, ice and dangerous driving conditions in many parts of the country. This is the time of year to take care of some basic car maintenance tasks and follow winter driving rules, to make sure you stay safe on the road.
Tips to prepare your car for winter
Check your tires
A worn tire with little or no tread on a rain-puckered road is a recipe for disaster. Hydroplaning on a wet surface results in loss of operator control, which can result in a simple wing-bender or serious wreckage.
To check your tire's tread, experts suggest slipping a penny into one of the treads in the center of the tire. If you can see the top of Lincoln's head then it's time to get some new tires. Properly inflated tires with the proper tread provide more traction on slippery roads.
Check your wiper blades
The summer heat that hits your windshield can damage the rubber blades of your windshield wipers. When cold air comes in, the blades can start to crack. If you notice the blades are streaking when it rains, it's time to replace them. Replace your wiper fluid with a winter mixture which can help melt the ice.
Maintain the radiator system
Make sure your radiator and heating system are working properly. You can check the antifreeze level yourself using an antifreeze tester.
Keep your gas tank full
Driving on fumes is risky even in the heat of summer, but it is especially dangerous in cold weather. To avoid ice cubes in the gas tank and gas lines, keep your gas tank at least half full throughout the winter.
Prepare for an emergency
Every car should have basic emergency supplies such as road maps, a spare tire, flashlight, and extra batteries, along with booster cables. But in the winter, you should put together an emergency kit with the items you might need if your car ends up in a ditch in bad weather and you have to wait for help to arrive. This emergency kit can contain items such as blankets, first aid kit, windshield scraper, folding shovel, tool kit for minor repairs, water container, canister of water. sealed compressed air. a bag of sand or cat litter to pour over ice for extra traction.
Learn more about winter driving
No matter where you live, icy roads are always a possibility. Even a little humidity on the road, combined with very low temperatures, can lead to slippery roads, especially on bridges and overpasses.
Here are some driving tips that can save your life:
- Improve visibility before you leave the house by cleaning all the ice and snow from your car.
- Use your low beam headlights when driving in a rain or snowstorm for better visibility.
- When approaching a chunk of ice on the road, apply the brakes during your approach, not when you reach the ice.
- Move, turn and brake slowly. Sudden changes and rapid movements make it more difficult to maintain control.
- Always leave plenty of space between your car and the car in front of you.
- Slow down. Posted speed limits apply to ideal road conditions, not inclement weather.
Preparing your car and driving yourself in the winter is not difficult, and it can mean the difference between leaving home and arriving at your destination safe and sound, or leaving home and ending up in hospital or worse. Take the time to plan ahead so that you can enjoy a happy and safe winter.
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