Preparing for Winter Driving

As the winter season approaches, get ready by prepping your car and reviewing our safety tips!

Prep Your Car

In addition to annual maintenance, here are some tips to winterize your car:

Test your battery as the power can drop with the temperature
Make sure the cooling system is working properly
Ensure that the anti-freeze reservoir is full
Ensure that all-season radial tires have good tread
Check the tire pressure since it can drop as the temperature does
Check your wiper blades and replace if needed
Make sure that you headlights and tail lights are working
Add wiper fluid that is rated for -30^oF
Keep your gas tank at least half dull to avoid a gas line freeze
Dress appropriately for winter weather conditions and wear multiple layers in case your car breaks down or you get stuck during cold weather

Keep a kit in your car at all times with the following items:

Clean your car's external camera lenses,side view mirrors and all windows for optimal visibility
Remove any dirt, ice and snow from sensors to allow any assistive-driving features like automatic emergency braking to work
In frigid weather, consider warming up your car before driving

- To prevent carbon monoxide poisoning, never leave your car running in your garage, even if the garage door is up

- If you cannot postpone your trip, share your travel plans and route with friends and/or family before leaving

In wintry conditions, avoid using cruise control and brake retarders
Steer in the direction of a skid, to avoid overcorrection when your wheels regain traction
With an anti-lock braking system (ABS) continue to press and hold the pressure on the brake pedal
Accelerate and decelerate slowly
Increase your following distance to 8 to 10 seconds
If possible, don't stop when going uphill
If visibility is severly limited, pull off the road to a safe place (off the road and shoulder)

Remember to always leave your house prepared and stay safe driving this winter.