If you live in an area that receives snow in the winter, you know that you need to prepare your house before the temperature drops. You might repair cracks in your driveway or sidewalk, have your furnace inspected or stock up on non-perishable foods in case of a blizzard. One area that you might forget to prepare that deserves your careful attention is your car.
Check Parts
Having your car malfunction in the middle of a snowstorm is a nightmare. Even with a properly functioning car, avoiding accidents is hard because the snow makes your tires lose traction with the road. Don’t increase the probability of a disaster skipping repairs that need to happen. At least a month before the weather usually gets cold in your area, take your car to your local garage. Pay for an inspection of all of your car’s parts, particularly the brakes and coolant levels. Taking care of a brake caliper replacement or similar repair now can mean the difference between a safe drive home and waiting for a tow truck on the edge of the road. At this time, you can also take care of routine issues such as having your oil changed.
Prepare Supplies
While you can make sure that your car is in perfect condition and that you are driving as safely as possible, you can’t avoid every accident. Accidents in the winter are particularly troubling, since you may suffer health issues from exposure if you are not careful. Always have a car charger with you so that you can keep in contact with your insurance company and the tower without worrying about your phone dying. You should also have an emergency supply kit. Critical items include non-perishable food, bottled water, a first aid kit, candles, matches and a blanket. At the start of each season, check the expiration date on the food, water and medicine. You can’t just leave the same bottle of water in your car for ten years; it does expire eventually. These preparations do not mean that hypothermia and other exposure-related issues go away. However, you will be better prepared to wait through the hours it may take for a tow truck to reach you on a snowy night.
Car safety goes beyond using your turn signal and looking in your mirrors before merging. Take steps now to prepare yourself so that if something does go wrong, you know you are ready.
