These Winter Driving Tips Make the Holidays Safer

While we no longer use horses and sleighs to head “over the river and through the woods” to get to Grandmother’s house, traveling there can still be an adventure.

But you need to make sure that adventure is a pleasant experience by following a few driving safety tips that will help you make it through the toughest winter weather.

Start With the Vehicle

If you want your journey to be successful, you need to start your preparations before you ever hit the road.

That means you need to check the automobile you’ll be driving to ensure it can safely make the trip. This includes checking the:

• Tires: Make sure the tires are inflated properly and don’t show any signs of wear. If your tires are more than five years old, you should probably replace them regardless of use.
• Lights: Turn on all the signals, bright lights and emergency flashers to make sure they all work and aren’t burned out or defective. You may need a friend to help you determine that all three brake lights come on when you press the pedal.
• Windshield wipers: These metal and rubber pieces are lifesavers when you're caught in heavy rain or snow. Make sure they don’t scrape the windshield and effectively clear your view of debris without leaving excessive streaks.
• Coolant: You may not realize that coolant is also necessary during the winter months, but it is essential to cool the engine all year long. In the summer, you can make do with some water in your radiator, but in the winter, that water can freeze and can bust your radiator or simply not flow throughout the engine to cool it. Antifreeze is aptly named to ensure that your car has liquid coolant even in the winter.
• Brakes: If your vehicle shudders when you stop, it may be time to replace the brakes. If your car uses an anti-lock brake system (ABS), make sure it is working properly. You can check with your mechanic to ensure your brakes and ABS are in good condition and replace them promptly if necessary to avoid damaging the rotors.
• Engine: You should also take your automobile to a trusted mechanic before a long road trip so they can check for any problems that could occur out on the road. They can also check valves, gaskets and hoses to make sure they aren’t worn.

Packing the Vehicle

Once your automobile has been thoroughly evaluated, you also need to make sure you pack some safety devices in case of a wreck or breakdown.

Some things to assist your vehicle’s performance during your road trip include:

• Jumper cables
• Additional coolant
• Kitty litter, sand or salt to help with traction control
• An ice scraper
• A flashlight and other warning devices like emergency markers

But your vehicle isn’t the only thing on this road trip. You and your loved ones are also along on this ride, and you will need items to stay hydrated and warm in case of a breakdown.

For the people in the vehicle, make sure to pack:

• Blankets
• Cell phones, chargers and battery banks
• A first-aid kit
• Water
• Snacks

Tips for the Road

Finally, there is the trip itself.

The first rule you need to follow is to get plenty of rest the night before your journey. And, if the trip is especially long, you may want to consider spending the night in a hotel or motel along the way. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and AAA state that 91,000 crashes a year are attributed to drowsy driving. That figure includes 50,000 injuries and 800 deaths.

You should plan your route so you can make stops to fuel up, eat and rest.

You should also avoid risky behavior. Don’t drink and drive or text and drive, obey the speed limit, and make sure everyone in your car is properly buckled in.

At Ficosa, our mission is to provide our automaker clients with the most innovative safety equipment, from rearview systems to Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS). That’s why we take driving safety seriously.

Be sure you get to your destination safe and sound and in one piece so you can have a wonderful holiday season with your family and friends.