The holidays are officially over. Luckily, I still have a few weeks to relax and try my hardest to do absolutely nothing at all.
The holidays were fun, but what’s not so fun is this winter weather. I’m sorry, you polar bears out there, but I cannot stand cold weather. Even snow gets me in a bad mood. I used to hope for enough snow to cancel school, but now that I have to be outside in it, my tune has changed a little! Being forced to walk outside in the snow and ice is a brutal experience, but having to drive in it —now, that’s an ordeal.
Throughout the year, drivers tend to take the little details of their cars — from the tire tread, drive train, transmission and even the brakes — for granted. But now that winter is officially here, those little things will become very important. Winter driving is dangerous, so I’ve researched some tips you can use to improve your safety and make sure your car is ready for the snow and ice:
Give your car a checkup. Emphasize the car’s brakes, fluids and electrical parts, especially the battery. You need to make sure your brakes aren’t worn out, your antifreeze is full and that there are no leaks anywhere.
Check the tread on your tires. The way I learned to do this was the “penny method” — place a penny on its edge inside the tread, so that Abe Lincoln’s head is pointed towards the tire. If you can see the top of Lincoln’s head, then your tread is too worn.
Make sure all the tires, and the spare, are inflated to the right level.
Know your car! Does it have front-wheel drive? Rear-wheel drive? Four-wheel drive? Two-wheel drive? Knowing the characteristics of your vehicle will make you better prepared for hazardous weather.
Slow down on slick roads. This will help your traction and will leave you with plenty of room to stop.
Turn on your lights for maximum visibility. It will help other drivers see you.
And most importantly, if the weather looks really bad, don’t drive in it! Simply staying off the road during hazardous conditions is the safest choice you can make.
Please be safe this winter!