**This post was sponsored by Caitlin Chrysler Jeep Dodge Ram in Jenkintown, PA**
Living in Pennsylvania we see everything from 98 degrees and sun in the summer to -15 with wind chills of -30 and feet of snow. This past week has been pretty nasty for us here in south western, PA. Sunday night the roads were iced then we got several inches of snow, cold temps and some sleet on tip. It was a mess. My normal 20 minutes drive to work took 40 minutes. Wednesday had ice everywhere and drove past the scene of an accident where a truck had flipped on it’s roof. Which brings me to the point of this post, winter driving tips.
People that aren’t around snow and ice as often and surprisingly even people around here have a misconception that if they have 4 wheel drive or an SUV they won’t have too much trouble getting around. That might be true when it’s just snow but when it comes to ice, any vehicle can lose control.
Prepping for the drive
Allow yourself plenty of time to get to your destination. You’ll need to drive slower. If it’s bad like it was here on Wednesday there’s a chance you’ll run into delays like car accidents or fallen branches on the road. If you give yourself extra time you don’t feel rushed and you’re not tempted to hurry or be impatient.
Have your cell phone handy and charged or keep a car charger adapter in your vehicle. Some have service subscriptions like on-star that are great too. This way if you do get into an accident or your vehicle is stuck you can get help. I’ve also had to use my to call my work and let them know I was running a few minutes late.
Stock your car emergency kit before the weather starts
When the bad weather season is approaching make sure you have some things in your car to help you with icy weather. Keeping a small bag of kitty litter in your vehicle in the winter can help you if you’re vehicle gets stuck on ice. Ironically this just happened to me on Wednesday in in my all wheel drive suv. Pour some kitty litter around the front and back of the tire(s) that are stuck. then try advancing your vehicle. If it still doesn’t work, try “rocking” your vehicle by attempting to back up then pull forward. You might only move a little bit at a time but that’s ok.
Things like road flares, emergency signs, or flashers can alert other drivers that you might need some help and also makes drivers aware to slow down.
Make sure your spare tire is in good shape and you have a tire iron or some tool available if you would need to change your tire in an unlikely spot. Keeping a flashlight, especially a hand crank or shake flashlight that will last longer will help if this happens at night. Also could be used to help signal for help if needed.
Keeping vehicle emergency phone numbers handy like your insurance company, a tow service, or an automobile service like AAA will ensure you can get help faster when stranded in the cold weather.
I personally keep a first aid kit in my car. With 4 small children I’d rather be over prepared then under. I have a family travel kit that that has things like bandaids, burn ointment, gauze, and scissors in it among a number of other items.
For parents, having activities in the car like books, travel games, etc is a good idea anyway but if something would happen you’re vehicle was stuck and you had to wait for a tow, these things could be a sanity saver to keep your kids entertained and calm until help arrives.
Have your vehicle checked before the start of the season
Ensuring your have enough anti-freeze, windshield washer fluid, oil, etc in your car will keep your car running smoothly. I’d never want to run out of windshield washer fluid with the salt and splash I get on my car. Checking your battery is always a good idea too. Do you need new tires? Check your treads. Also having the appropriate tires help too. Whether you use all season, winter tires, or studs, make sure they’re in place before the weather gets too bad.
For negative temps
Give yourself time to warm your vehicle up, not only for you and anyone riding with you but for your vehicle too. When you start your vehicle you can also clean off the roof, windows and hood to make sure you have full view when driving. This is where making sure your have a good battery is really going to pay off. When it’s extremely cold you can even start your car and leave it run for about 10-15 minutes to make sure the battery doesn’t freeze.
Last but not least, is your car going to make it through the cold weather
Believe me I know cars are not cheap. I keep a vehicle that’s been good to me as long as possible. But if you’re car has been nickel and diming you, shutting down on you, etc. in the good weather, it’s gonna be worse in the winter. When you’re vehicle is misbehaving give yourself time to shop. For example, check out: http://www.
What are your winter driving tips?
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