Safety Tip Tuesday - Winterize Your Vehicle
With icy roads, poor visibility and other risks on the road, the colder weather can take a toll on drivers as well as their vehicles. Here are a few tips to winterize your vehicle and make sure you always reach your destination this winter.
How to Winterize Your Vehicle
Install winter wipes
Carry a windshield ice scraper
Clear snow and ice off the vehicle
Change to winter tires
Monitor tire pressure
Regularly service your vehicle
Sign up for a roadside assistance plan
Pack a winter emergency car kit
Follow fleet guidelines
Prioritize Visibility
Visibility is extremely important when trying to improve vehicle safety, which is why you need to choose the right windshield wipers for winter. Winter wipers come with a rubber covering that keeps ice from collecting on the blades. This may seem very simple, but traveling with a bad set of wipers can be dangerous if the rubber has torn or deteriorated from the summer sun.
Another way to keep your windshield visible is to make sure that the washer reservoir is always kept full. It helps melt the ice and snow, and gives drivers a clear sight of what is around them. In areas of sever daily freezing, windshield de-icer products can speed up the thawing process.
Clear fallen snow and ice from your vehicle before you get going. While it may be tempting to only clean the windows and drive away, not clearing piled up snow or ice endangers others. Once you’re driving, that snow may fly off into the path of drivers behind you. If a collision occurs as a result, you may be found at fault and responsible.
Consider Winter Tires
Driving in the winter could mean dealing with a mix of snow, sleet, and ice. Driving can be difficult and sometimes dangerous due to those slippery conditions. Having the right set of tires, such as winter or studded tires, can offer huge advantages when travelling in not just snow, but cold conditions.
Monitoring tire pressure is also important all winter long since tire pressure drops roughly 1-2 pounds for every 10 degrees Fahrenheit that the temperature lowers. In newer vehicles, an in-vehicle alert for low pressure will be visible to the driver, while older vehicles require that tire pressure be checked manually to ensure they aren’t under inflated.
Check Your Battery
Having your vehicles regularly serviced should include checking the health of the battery and charging system. This is a major step during winter to make sure you don’t get stranded at any point without being able to turn on the heater.
For those traveling in remote areas, some carry an on-board power inverter with the ability to jump a vehicle battery. These can also typically charge cell phones and often have an emergency light built in as well.
Stay On Top of Regular Servicing
During the winter months, certain components are at a higher risk of failure, which is why it’s important to make sure your car is well-serviced when entering the colder months. Bad hoses, belts, water pumps and spark plugs can result in getting stranded on the side of the road, with is especially dangerous during winter.
But the reality is that regular, preventive maintenance servicing is important all year round.
Be Prepared for Anything
Have a winter preparedness kit stocked with water, food, blankets, a flashlight, shovel, and spare clothes.
Find more information on driver safety here.