Winter Driving

While the winter season is nice to enjoy when playing in the snow and staying inside to enjoy a hot cup of cocoa near the fire, it doesn’t make for favorable driving conditions. This is why it’s important to take many precautions before and during the winter season to ensure your car runs smoothly. After all, regardless of the weather, you are most likely driving your car almost every day.

Here at ZenLyfe, our goal is to ensure both you and your loved ones have the knowledge to keep you safe. In this blog post, we will be covering a variety of ways to prepare for winter driving and everything you should know. 

Car Preparations

Here are some things you should do to your car before the cold weather hits. If you haven’t already done some of this, it’s not too late to start now.

Fill Up Your Tires

Low tire pressure only adds to dangerous driving conditions, so you want to ensure you check your tire pressure before driving and fill up as needed. If you notice your tire pressure keeps lowering, you might want to take your car in to get inspected and possibly buy new tires. 

Look Into Snow Tires

If you live in the northern states of America or in another country like Canada that gets tons of snow, it might be worth considering getting snow tires. To ensure you buy the right ones, consider heading to a tire or automotive shop to help with the selection process.

Check Your Battery

Did you know your vehicle’s battery capacity lessens in cold weather? With that being said, you’ll want a professional to check your battery’s fluids and cables. 

Replace Your Tires - If Necessary

You’ll want to check your car’s tire tread and look for balding or obvious signs of usage. This is because the tread on a car helps you with traction on the road. Having traction is especially important when dealing with icy roads and snowy weather. 

There is an old trick called the “penny test” that is used as a good indicator when it’s time to change your tires. You do this by taking a penny and placing it in the tread groove of your tire. Place the penny with Lincoln’s head facing you, and stick the penny in the tread so that the top of Lincoln’s head is no longer visible. If his entire head is visible while in the groove, it’s time to replace your tires.

Tips for Safe Winter Driving

If you live in an area that isn’t used to snowy and icy weather when it does hit you can expect sheer panic amongst residents. Or, even if your area is used to it, there is always the chance that certain individuals aren’t. 

Expect Extra Travel Time

Driving during winter conditions usually takes more time than usual because people drive slower and roads might be blocked due to accidents or weather. To avoid the need to speed, give yourself extra time to travel to your destination. 

Remove Snow and Ice From Your Car

Before heading out for the day, remove all snow and ice from your car. This prevents any large chunks of ice and snow from flying off your car and hitting other people in the road. 

Drive Slow

You should drive slower than usual in these weather conditions because you need time to break and react to any objects in the road. It will also help prevent the possibility of you losing control of your car. If you need to be somewhere by a specific time, leave earlier to allow yourself to drive at a safe speed. 

Don’t Use Cruise Control

Winter conditions mean you should be in full control of your car at all times. Cruise control is when the car is set at a certain speed and you don’t have to press the gas pedal. To avoid any unnecessary accidents, don’t use cruise control in weather like that. 

Wear Your Seatbelt

You should always wear your seatbelt no matter what but most storm-related deaths involve a vehicle. And did you know that Wearing a seatbelt reduces your chance of injury in a car crash by more than 45%? 

Key Takeaways

Overall, the winter season can be enjoyable in all aspects if you use common sense and practice safe driving. The easiest thing to remember is to drive with caution and prepare your car before the winter season hits. For more winter safety tips like these, subscribe to the ZenLyfe blog!