Properly Maintain Your Vehicle
While it is important to maintain your vehicle throughout the year, proper care of your car in winter is imperative-not only to the car's well being, but for your safety as well. Maintaining proper tire pressure is key to utilizing the benefits of good quality tires. If filled improperly, drivers won't get the most of their tire's durability. Keeping up on oil changes and general maintenance is important, too, and should be done prior to the onslaught of winter.
Keep An Emergency Kit
Beyond emergency items like flares and jumper cables, a winter emergency kit is a good idea-whether you travel back and forth to work, or venture out on longer travels. Hopefully such a kit will never be needed, but it is always better to be safe than sorry.
Fill a small plastic container with a tight fitting lid with the following items:
- A blanket-If the car breaks down during a storm, it may take awhile for help to arrive. A blanket will help motorists and passengers retain natural body heat.
- Bottled water-Again in the instance of a breakdown, it is necessary to have access to fresh drinking water.
- A portable shovel-Department stores sell telescoping shovels that will fit compactly into your emergency kit. These are handy for digging out a car that has become stuck in a snow bank.
- A flashlight and batteries-In the event that the car's battery dies, a flashlight will be needed at night.
- A small supply of packaged food. Items like fruit snacks and nuts last a long time and provide energy if the next meal is significantly delayed.
In addition to the emergency kit, it is an excellent idea for all motorists to carry a cell phone. If the price is too daunting, explore options where calling time is purchased on a prepaid card, and use the phone only for emergencies.
Share Your Itinerary
If you're going off on a variety of errands, or are driving a distance other than your routine trip, it is a good idea to let someone else know where you're headed and when you expect to return. That way in the event of a problem, others are prepared to alert the authorities that a motorist may need help.
If you live alone, check in with a friend or co-worker and share your itinerary with them.
Whether to Weather the Storm
Staying tuned to your local and national weather television stations will help keep you abreast of any winter travel warnings or advisories-both in your region and in any region where you plan to travel. Granted, these forecasts aren't foolproof, but typically err on the side of caution if a potential storm is in the near future.
This is another reason to keep a portable radio in your car emergency kit. If anything happens to your car radio, a portable will allow you to tune in and keep abreast of local weather conditions.
Go Slow!
Slowing down in any kind of inclement weather is probably the most sensible option in ensuring safe driving-and it is the one rule that is most often broken. For some reason motorists neglect to alter their speed when the roads are slick or snow covered. Simple common sense may in fact be the #1 safety tip for winter driving.
A little planning and foresight can prevent unnecessary hazards while driving in any type of winter weather conditions. By keeping informed, being prepared, and slowing down while driving, everyone can enjoy a safe and happy winter driving season.
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