Prepare Your Car for Safe Winter Driving
Winter officially begins on Wednesday, December 22, 2010. That means the snow and ice that we experienced last year will be here soon. Driving in these conditions is always a challenge. We should all be checking our cars in order to prepare for the upcoming winter. Here are some things that you should consider:
- Be sure that you have the proper amount of anti-freeze in your car;
- Tires - since cold weather reduces the pressure in your tires, you should check them frequently and maintain the proper amount of pressure;
- Put an emergency kit in your car. You should include in the kit: blankets, a flashlight with extra batteries, a first-aid kit, drinking water, and jumper cables;
- Make sure that your windshield wipers do not need replacing;
- If you have a diesel car you should consider having an electric engine heater installed;
- Replace cracked, glazed or frayed drive belts and visibly worn, excessively soft or bulging coolant hoses;
- Consider putting a small shovel in your car; and
- Be sure to drive slowly and carefully – we all know that helpless feeling when you are skidding on ice
