Get Your Car Ready for Winter Driving

In Utah, we are lucky to get the full spectrum of seasons, and along with that comes the full spectrum of driving climates. Unfortunately, we see a lot of bad accident cases come through during the winter months, and now is really the time to prepare your car for winter driving.

Make Sure You Can See

Change Wiper Blades, Use a Winter Windshield Fluid

It’s pretty simple: If you can’t see through your windshield, you’re probably going to wreck. If you haven’t switched out your windshield wiper blades in a while, now is the time to do so.

Also, put in some winter windshield wiper fluid. Winter wiper fluid won’t freeze to your car like regular windshield wiper fluid will, and it will actually help loosen ice and snow from your windshield, making it much easier to keep your view of the road clear.

Give Your Vehicle the Traction It Needs

You want the very best traction when you drive during the winter months, and traction is often severely compromised in wet, snowy, or icy conditions. Anyone who has ever hit black ice or hydroplaned knows just how quickly you can lose control of your vehicle.

While there’s nothing better than chains or snow tires for icy roads, simply having the correct tire pressure goes a long way toward giving your vehicle the necessary traction. You can’t risk the possibility of under-inflated tires, and the air pressure in your tires has probably dropped as the weather has gotten colder.

Check your owner’s manual to find out what your vehicle’s target pressure should be, and keep your tires safely inflated to maintain traction on winter roads.

Double-Check Your Belts and Hoses

When you go in for a routine car checkup, make sure to have your belts and hoses checked for wear and tear. Even if you are driving a newer car, cold weather can put strains on belts and hoses. A quick check can save you money and spare you from the possibility of disaster if one of those belts were to snap during cold-weather driving.

Make Sure Your Battery Is Going to Function in Cold Temperatures

Your vehicle’s battery capacity is reduced in cold weather, and sometimes a battery that has worked well all through summer and fall will have problems with the colder temperatures.

To make certain you don’t have trouble starting your car on a freezing day, you should take a look under the hood at your battery and check the manufacture date. If it’s been three to four years since it was manufactured, it’s probably time to change it.

Also check for cracks or breaks in the battery cables. Take the opportunity to check the available voltage in your battery. You can do this by using a handheld hydrometer, or just take it to a local auto parts store, and they will often check it for free.

Be Prepared for the Worst (Have an Emergency Kit)

Even if you take all the precautions in the world before hitting the road, winter driving is just too unpredictable to guarantee that nothing will go wrong. If you’re involved in an accident, if your car breaks down during a blizzard, or just in case anything goes wrong, make sure to have the following supplies in your car:

  • A blanket
  • Extra water and food
  • An ice scraper
  • A flashlight
  • Jumper cables
  • Flares
  • A toolkit
  • A first aid kit
  • A bag of abrasive materials such as sand, salt, or kitty litter which can provide additional traction if your vehicle is stuck in the snow

Conclusion

Utah is a beautiful state during the winter, but it can also be cold and unpredictable. Do your best to protect yourself and your loved ones by getting your vehicle ready for winter driving, Follow Craig Swapp & Associates on Facebook for more helpful tips, and don’t hesitate to contact us by calling 1-800-404-9000 or through our online form if you or anyone close to you needs experienced legal help this winter. Stay safe, Utah.

Written By: Ryan Swapp     Legal Review By: Craig Swapp