Now that we’re in the Winter months it’s time to embrace for driving in the snow and other hazardous weather conditions. Before you get behind the wheel make sure you understand some precautionary measures to ensure a safe voyage! Be sure to perform a checklist of the following before driving in the snow:
Winter Driving Safety Measures
1. Check Battery
If your battery fails while driving in snow you’re in big trouble! Not only are you stuck, your heat is out now too! To avoid this dilemma be sure to inspect your battery before a big snowstorm arrives. Be on the lookout for any lights appearing on your dashboard and attend to them right away in order to avoid roadside inconvenience.
2. Change Wiper Blades/Fluid
Your view will be obstructed when driving in the snow. Therefore it’s crucial to make sure wiper blades are functioning properly. In order to have working blades, test them before snow arrives. In addition make sure your wiper fluid is full. Salt and dirt will surely collect on your windshield after a big storm. It’s important to make sure your car has enough wiper fluid to clear any blurred vision.
3. Check Tire Pressure
Once the Winter temperature hits, your tire pressure drops significantly. When driving through treacherous weather like sleet and ice you want to have a stable set of tires to drive on. Be sure to check your tire pressure and inflate when needed. Another reason why maintaining good tire pressure is important are because of potholes. Frequent in the Winter after heavy storms, potholes cause a tremendous amount of damage to cars each year. Having properly inflated tires can reduce or avoid the damage entirely caused by potholes.
4. Inspect Four-Wheel Drive
We’ve probably all seen a driver spin out on the road when driving through a blizzard. This could be because they only have rear-wheel drive and get stuck or their four-wheel drive isn’t working properly. Be sure to have your vehicle inspected by a mechanic once a year before the Winter months to make sure your four-wheel drive doesn’t have any malfunctions.
5. Stock an emergency roadside kit
In the event you do get stuck, be prepared. Have an emergency roadside kit available for use. Some things you may want to include:
- Blanket
- Non-perishable food
- Water
- Spare clothes in the event you need to spend the night until the storm passes
Maintaining your vehicle can certainly be a time constraint. However when the Winter months approach having the key components of your car inspected and a helpful checklist handy can make the difference between a minor inconvenience and a major headache.
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