Prepare Your Car for Winter

As the temperatures are getting colder and it is getting darker earlier, there are several things you can do to get your car ready for winter and protect yourself at the same time.

From things to check on your car and things to keep in your car, there are several easy things to do to get ready for winter.

Check your tires.

This seems to come up every season. It is that important. Check the tread on your tires. If your tires are old and losing tread, then your car will not be able to handle the winter weather safely. The winter brings plenty of rain and snow, so it is important to know that our tires are ready for the inclement weather.

Even if your tires are brand new, check the air pressure. Air contracts in the colder weather, so even if you have no problems with your tires, you may need to top off the air pressure to keep your tires functioning correctly.

Check your lights and reflectors.

Since it is getting dark earlier, you want to make sure that you can see the road and other cars, and you want to make sure other drivers can see you. If all of your lights are not working, it makes it very difficult for other drivers to see you in the dark. You also want to make sure that your reflectors are in place and not broken or missing. Reflectors are not only important for when you are driving, but if you park on the street, you want to make sure your car can be seen by others who are driving by.

When it comes to your headlights and high beams, if is not only important to make sure they work, but to check they are aimed properly. Improperly aimed headlights and blind drivers coming in the other direction. You will notice that properly aim headlights do not face straight out, but rather are pointed toward the ground. Different car manufacturers recommend different distances to aim your headlights. Distance can range from 6 feet to 30 feet. Check your owner’s manual or as us next time you bring your car in for an oil change and tune up.

Have an emergency kit in your car.

A good rule is to prepare for the worst. In the winter, it is important to be prepared for a scenario where you may possibly be stuck after the sun has already gone down. Here is a list of handy items to keep in your car:

• Road Reflectors. You should have a few so you could put them out in several places to alert oncoming drivers you are stuck. If you only have one reflector, or you depend on the small reflectors on your car, drivers may not see you or be able to react in time to miss you especially if you are on or close to a active lane of traffic.
  

• Shovel. Snow is always an issue in the winter. You may go out someplace and park, only for a quick snow fall, not to mention the plows, to bury you in your parking spot.
  

• Sand, gravel, or kitty litter. Besides a shovel, it is a good idea to have something that can help you to get traction on a slippery roadway if you get stuck in place.
  

• Phone charger. You might run out of the house to run an errand and not realize your phone’s charge is down to 10%, especially if it is late in the day. The last thing you want is to get stuck and realize your phone is on the verge of dying. Keep a charger in your glove box so you can charge your phone in the car any place you may find an outlet you can use.
  

• Besides the shovel you will want to have other winter related items in your car such as gloves, scarf, and boots. You will also want to make sure you have things like an ice scrapper and brush for the snow.
  

• Spare Tire. When you check your tires, make sure your spare is ready to go as well. You will also want to make sure that you, or whoever is going to drive the car, knows how to use the car’s jack and the proper way to change a tire.
  

• List of phone numbers. Besides your emergency contacts, you can keep our numbers in your phone in case of an emergency. If you need a tow, even in the middle of the night, you can call us. Our 24-hour tow hotline number is 516.477.0708.
  

The most important thing about driving in the winter is to drive safe and defensively. Do not speed. Speeding is not only unsafe for you, but it is unsafe for those around you as well, especially in winter driving conditions.