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There is nothing scarier than being stuck on a highway (or really any street, for that matter) with inches of snow coming down.
Driving in bad weather is unsettling for a number of reasons, but the fear of your car not being able to handle the elements is enough to keep us all off the roads.
However, you can’t always decide when or if you’ll need to drive somewhere, so it’s always good to be prepared no matter what.
Here are some easy ways that you can prepare your car, should you have to drive through inches of snow or a winter storm.
Surprise, surprise, but not all windshield wiper fluid is the same!
In fact, if you stick with the same fluid that you use in the warmer months, it will more than likely freeze the second it comes in contact with your windshield.
Instead, switch over to the winter fluid, which won’t freeze upon contact. It’ll also help to loosen ice and freeze from your windshield.
If it’s been a while since you’ve checked on the quality of your tires, now is the time to do it.
Having reliable tires could be the difference between losing control of your car and being able to stay on the road during a snowstorm.
Make sure the mechanic checks to see that you have enough tread on your tires, as well as confirm they have enough air pressure.
Another very important step is to check your engine to make sure it has enough antifreeze and engine coolant.
This will make sure your engine doesn’t freeze during the winter months, which could leave you stranded on the side of the road. Nobody wants that!
You can either take it to a mechanic to have them check on it for you, or you can just buy a kit for checking your engine coolant.
If you need to add more antifreeze, it’s fairly simple and you should be able to do it at home.
Along with double-checking all these things that go inside your car, make sure you have all the necessary equipment for the outside of your car too.
Start a “winter box” for your car that includes a windshield scraper, which will take off the snow and ice stuck to your windshield, gloves, a flashlight, and a first-aid kit.
Also, include a few blankets, some extra warm clothes, water, and some non-perishable foods.
Nobody ever thinks that they’re going to get stranded on the side of the road and have to spend hours in their car, but it’s better to be safe than sorry.
