When I was a college kid and just starting my driving career, my father, who’s 83 years old and still driving, gave me excellent advice (for winter driving and for life in general). He told me, “Kiddo, you can deal with almost anything as long as you’re prepared.” It’s advice I took to heart, and it’s served me well over the 20 years I’ve been driving. In this article I’m going to share with you some of the tips I follow when I’m getting ready for another season of winter driving.
First, you have to set aside some time to prepare your car for winter driving. Pick a day where you can take a half hour to make a list of what you’re going to need to prepare for the winter.
You also need to prepare your car for bad weather. You want to make sure that your vehicle is in good condition and has the essential equipment to deal with ice, snow, and more. Make sure that your car has:
- A recent checkup. Have the mechanic check everything over, and recommend any necessary fixes before the snow flies.
- Good tires. They don’t have to be brand new, but you don’t want them to be bald either!
- New wipers. These are a relatively low cost item that will be a big help when there’s freezing rain and snow.
- Fluids topped off. The last thing you want to worry about when you’re crawling through blinding snow at 5 mph on the interstate is an overheating engine, or an icing windshield. Make sure your oil, transmission fluid, and wiper fluid are all full.
- A snow scraper. No, your mitten is not a sufficient substitute, Get one that’s sturdy and has a nice long handle – don’t bother with the gadgety ones that plug into your lighter. You just want to be able to scrape off the snow and ice when it’s building up.
Now that your car is taken care of, let’s make sure you have what you need to be safe. Get a duffel bag, a small storage bin, or some other storage container (use plastic so it’s waterproof) and pack it with the following items:
- A flashlight and extra batteries. If you have to get out of your car for any reason in the dark, you’ll be grateful to have one. And make sure the batteries are new! If you can get the kind designed to flash as well (check auto parts stores or a big box store).
- A fleece blanket (two or three if you have room).
- Several bottles of water.
- At least one set of gloves, scarf, and hat (for passengers who don’t bring theirs, or for you when you forget yours) in case you have to get out of the car in the snow.
- Road flares and a set of matches in a waterproof bag.
- A small first aid kit.
- A box of granola bars, energy bars, or some other nonperishable snack.
- A waterproof marker and some paper (in case you have to leave a note on your dashboard).
- Pieces of reflective material and bright material (you want items that work both in daytime and at night).
- String or twine and scissors.
Following these guidelines won’t guarantee that you’ll never experience problems or accidents while driving in bad weather, but they WILL ensure that, if you do, you’ll be better prepared for them. Have a safe winter!
(I wrote this blog post while participating in the SocialMoms and Esurance blogging program for 8,000 My SocialMoms Rewards Points. For more information on how you can participate, click here.)
