It seems that every winter, when the first flakes begin to descend from the sky, drivers everywhere panic and seemingly forget how to drive safely in snowy weather. You don't have to be one of them. With a little preparation and a lot of care, you can stay safe on the roads, even when other drivers aren't quite as cautious.
1)
Gear Up: If you're anything like us, you've been hauling around a trunk
full of beach mats, toys, umbrellas, and empty coolers since the end of May, in
case of a summer beach party emergency. Time to clean out the summer stuff to
make room for essential winter driving gear. You'll need a snow shovel, in case
you get stuck and need to dig out. You'll also need a bag of sand, which serves
two purposes: Sand provides traction for your tires in case you're stuck.
Additionally, a bag of sand is heavy, which adds ballast (weight) to the back
of your vehicle, which will help preventing sliding.
Put a
blanket, some extra winter clothes, a first-aid kit, and an emergency road kit
into your trunk in the (hopefully unlikely) even that you find yourself stuck
in the elements, awaiting rescue.
Make
sure the tires you have on your vehicle are weather-appropriate, depending on
the climate. For places that don't get much snow, good all-weather tires are
probably sufficient. But if you live in Alaska...well, chances are you don't
need these tips because your studded tires have been on since mid-September.
2)
Fill Up: Check all of the fluids in your vehicle and replenish them if
they're low, especially your windshield wiper fluid. If you have to ask why,
then you've never been stuck on the freeway behind a semi-truck as it obscures
your windshield with mud and dirt. Speaking of which, consider swapping out
your wiper blades for winter blades. And keep and extra container of wiper
fluid in your trunk, if you still have room in there.
When
the weather starts getting rough, don't drive around with less than half-a-tank
of gas in your car. You may find yourself idling longer than usual, due to
weather-related traffic back-ups, and nobody likes running out of gas,
especially when it's cold. Keeping your tank full will also stop it from icing
up.
3)
Tune Up: Stop procrastinating your car's tune-up. Get it done now. Ask
your mechanic to check the battery, hoses, belts, ignition system, oil level,
lights, and heating system.
4)
Buddy Up: If at all possible, avoid traveling alone. Carpooling is not
only good for the environment and saving wear and tear on your vehicle, it also
means someone is there to take the wheel if you become sleepy, or help you
navigate unfamiliar territory.
5)
Head's Up! Let's face it: Just because you're prepared doesn't mean that
bad things won't happen. All the extra blankets in the world won't help you if
another driver's car is out of control. Drive smart: Leave early so you don't
have to rush on slick roads. Allow plenty of room between your vehicle and the
one in front of you in case of sudden stops. Go slow. Use your headlights. Save
your aggressive driving for video games. It will only make you a menace in real
life, especially in the snow and ice.
Auto
Masters of Smyrna
56 S
Lowry St
Smyrna,
TN 37167
(615)
625-7200
