Winter Driving

With winter approaching, drivers need to take extra caution when driving in winter weather. It’s important to do a check up for your vehicle before the weather gets too bad. It is recommended that drivers check the tire pressure when temperatures start to drop as tire pressure goes down when outside temperatures decrease. The battery and charging system also needs to be up to fully functioning for the winter. Because it takes more power to get the engine started in the winter than it does in the summer your car’s battery needs to be charged to prevent ignition problems.

Below are some other things to keep in mind when winter driving begins:

• Using a 50-50 mix of coolant to water has a lower freezing point.

• Shut off the wiper blades before turning off your car so when it is started next time, they won’t be burnt out trying to move when frozen to the windshield.

• Keep your gas tank close to full in case of an emergency. In the winter, the engine is your only source of heat.

• Make sure the windshield washer fluid is full. In the winter, they can freeze, even if it says good to minus 25 degrees.

• Be sure you have basic supplies in case of an emergency.

When driving in the snow and winter weather, do everything slowly. Leaving plenty of space between your car and the one in front of you is important especially if you start to slide. Practice driving on a snow covered road in a large empty parking lot. Consider buying a vehicle that has safety features to help in bad weather. Above all, allow plenty of time to get to your destination-better to arrive safe and late than not arrive. If you’ve been injured in a motor vehicle accident, contact one of our attorneys to get the help you deserve.