Most of us who live in the North understand the struggles of going out to our cars during the winter season. We endure snow, hail, rain and wind just to go to work, run errands or visit friends and family. As life keeps moving along, the following safety tips will help you when the roads become hazardous to help prevent accidents!
We all have busy lives where we need to go to the grocery store, mall or go visit friends and family. Sometimes we need to run these errands or go visit people during hazardous weather conditions, but maybe the safest for you would be to stay home! Who wants to leave their warm and comfy house to get into a cold car anyways?
As we prepare for the cold season, it can be smart to have certain supplies and gear stored in your car. Such items can include warm clothes, flashlights, blankets and an ice scraper. If you don’t remove the ice and snow with a scraper before you hit the road, many states could issue fines up to $1,000. Just in case something happens while on the road, you’ll be glad that you have these emergency supplies.
Imagine being stuck in bumper to bumper traffic during a snowstorm or having to pull over onto the side of the road because of brutal weather conditions. It’s freezing, you only have a quarter tank of gas and there’s no gas station for miles. You could run out of gas in traffic or be stuck on the side of the road with no heat. To prevent either of these nightmare scenarios from becoming reality, it would be wise to always have at least a half tank of gas in your car when snow, sleet or freezing rain is in the forecast.
Driving on slippery roads can be nerve-racking when you feel your tires skidding, whether it be from snow, ice or heavy rains. Many people don’t realize that the condition of your tires can play a key role in your safety. Keeping an eye on your tire pressure and treads could be the difference between stopping safely and getting into an accident. It is generally recommended that your tire pressure is between 30 psi and 35 psi depending on your car.
When it comes to your tire treads, most car experts say you should get a tire rotation every 6 months or 7,500 miles, whichever comes first. While sitting at the repair shop for hours can seem like a waste of time, especially since we live busy lives, but getting your car looked at will give you some peace of mind. Knowing the warning signs that you need to replace your tires is also important. Most tires last between 25,000 – 50,000 miles before having to get them replaced. Some warning signs of when it is time to get your tires replaced are when your tire warning light comes on, low tire tread, cracked tires, wear on the sides, and tire vibration occurs. A single tire replacement can range anywhere from $200-$350 and replacing all four tires could cost anywhere between $525-$725.
Here’s something that won’t be as painful on the wallet… replacing your windshield wipers, which only costs between $25-$45. Our windshield wipers help us be able to see more clearly through snow, sleet, and heavy rains. When we hear the squeaking and streaking of our windshield wipers, it is time for them to be replaced. The sound that your wipers make tells us that the rubber on the wipers is losing its flexibility against the windshield.
Be mindful that you’re driving slower in the snow. It is not a bad thing to drive a bit slower during snowy conditions since it will reduce the likelihood of an accident!
- Time management is important during the winter season! We never know how the roads will be once we get on them, which is why it is important to leave your house earlier so we’re not late for any appointments.
- Driving slower in rain and snowy conditions will help prevent sliding on ice and rain spots in the road. Additionally, stopping a bit before a stop sign, red light or in traffic will help reduce the risk of rear ending someone or an accident.
- Something to also be aware of is to not stop on a hill, which will lead to potentially getting stuck on the road and that is something no one ever wants to happen.
Some of us get into the habit of using cruise control while on the highway or when we’re driving straight for a long period of time. But while there is snow, sleet or heavy rain falling, it is wise to not use cruise control since we need to be able to adjust our speed according to weather conditions.
No matter what time of year it is, tailgating someone on the road isn’t cool! It’s especially not cool in the winter season considering that the roads are slippery. When the car in front of you is coming to a stop and the roads are icy, this could lead to rear ending the car in front of you. Being sure we leave one to two car spaces between you and the car in front of you will help prevent any future accidents.
Of course there are more safety precautions we can take while driving in snowy conditions, but hopefully, these will help you navigate through the winter season. Stay safe on the road!
