8 Winter Driving Tips and How to Prepare Your Car for Winter

You may need to stock up on some additional winter weather accessories if you live up north or plan on taking a long road trip. Even with the best tires in the world, there’s still a chance you could get stuck or lose traction in the ice or snow. 

Bring along a set of rubber traction pads just to be safe. They don’t take up a lot of space and it’s easy to carry them around in case of an emergency. If you get stuck, slide a pad in front of or behind the stuck tire for some much-needed traction. Your tire should start to move once it gets onto the pad. It’s much easier to get a grip when driving on rubber than it is in snow. 

It’s also a good idea to have a light bar when driving in rural areas. Your factory headlights may not be enough in the middle of a blizzard, especially when staying home isn’t a choice. This is a must-have accessory for snowplows, emergency vehicles and other essential workers. 

When driving off-road, bring along a winch, chains or recovery kit in case you can’t retrieve your vehicle. A sudden winter storm could leave you stranded in the middle of the woods.

Preparing for an Emergency

Before you head out on the road, load up on emergency supplies to give yourself more peace of mind. Hopefully, your spare tire is still in good shape. You should also have a jack, toolbox and work light in case you need to make some last-minute repairs. Bring along a first aid kit with medications, medical supplies and other essentials. When faced with winter weather, you may need a compass, fire starter and other survival gear when exploring rural areas or those off the beaten path.

For roadside emergencies, bring along contact info for the nearest rescue team or AAA. You should have flares in case you need to wave anyone down. It’s also a good idea to bring along jugs of salt and sand in case you get stuck. Both are fairly cheap, after all. Sand is best used in slippery areas, while salt is great for breaking up snow and ice. Don’t forget to bring a shovel and ice scraper as well. You never know when you’ll have to dig yourself out of the snow.

If you don’t have enough room in your car for all these winter supplies and accessories, you can always invest in under seat storage to give yourself some extra space. It’s perfect for storing valuables, medications and emergency essentials. You won’t have to worry about these items getting wet or going missing when you need them most.

3 Driving Tips for Winter

Once your vehicle is ready to go, it’s time to start driving. Accessories aside, the best way to prepare for winter weather is to adjust your driving habits. The three pillars of safe winter driving are:

• Slow down

• Stay back

• Stay alert

Sounds pretty easy, right?

Slow Down

Let’s start with slowing down. Officials say it’s best to reduce your speed by a third when driving on wet roads and by half or more when driving on snow-covered roads. If you’re used to driving 60 MPH on the highway, cut it back to 40 MPH in wet conditions and 30 MPH or slower in snowy conditions. 

Even if the road looks clear, be aware of what’s known as the dreaded “black ice.” This is when water freezes on the road, but it looks as if there’s nothing there. The road tends to be cooler in shaded areas, so remember to take it slow when it’s near freezing out, even if you think you’re in the clear. 

However, it all depends on what you’re working with. There’s no such thing as the “ideal” speed when driving in the winter. If the road looks treacherous, err on the side of caution–or just stay home if you can. Pay attention to the speed limit, apply the math mentioned above and use your judgment. 

The faster you go, the harder it will be to brake. When putting your foot on the brake, go slow and start earlier than you would in dry conditions. If you press too hard too fast, your car will likely start to roll.

Be patient and slow down. You will get to your destination eventually.

Stay Back

This one is pretty straightforward, but it bears repeating. If you like creeping up on slow drivers as a way of getting them to speed up, it’s best to ditch this habit sooner rather than later.

Decrease your following distance in the winter to avoid any rear-end collisions. It’s best to double the space between you and the nearest vehicle. Every road, city and neighborhood tends to be different, so there’s no one-size-fits-all approach. Keep your eyes on the car ahead of you to make sure you’re slowing down or speeding up accordingly.

Make sure other drivers can see your car as well. Keep the headlights and brake lights free of snow and debris so everyone can follow these rules. 

Stay Alert

Finally, consider changing your state of mind behind the wheel. Instead of treating your commute to work like your last minute of freedom before you head into the office, think of winter driving as an exercise in safety. Try to avoid looking away from the road for whatever reason. Keep directions in sight so you don’t have to keep looking at your phone. Turn down the music and avoid daydreaming behind the wheel. 

It’s tempting to zone out when you’re creeping along at 30 MPH on the highway, but remember that things can change at a moment’s notice, especially when there’s snow coming down and your visibility is limited. If you’re driving with a friend or loved one, encourage them to focus on the road as well. Sometimes, safety is a group effort.

There are so many ways to prepare your vehicle for another season of brutal winter weather. Even if this year ends up being mild, these tips will make your life a lot easier. Relax, stay safe and start prepping your vehicle today before the first storm arrives.

How to Put Together a Winter Emergency Car Kit  

Is your car ready for winter weather? There are around 156,000 crashes annually due to icy roads, so it’s better to be safe than sorry. We’ll walk you through everything you need to create the ultimate winter emergency car kit so you never have to worry about getting stranded without the bare essentials. From starting a fire and staying warm behind the wheel to making minor repairs, use this guide to prepare for treacherous driving conditions.

Health and Safety

First Aid Kit

You should already have one of these stashed away in case of an emergency. Make sure your over-the-counter medications haven’t expired and stock up on bandages, face masks, hand sanitizer and heat pads in case it gets too cold. Bring plenty of dry rags and disinfectant wipes for keeping the interior clean and free of bacteria. There will probably be a lot of excess moisture lying around, so make sure you can mop up messes and spills. 

Water and Food

If the roads get really dicey, you’ll need something to hold you over until help arrives. It could take the rescue team several days to dig your car out of the snow. Bring several jugs of water, non-perishable food and other essentials to keep your energy up behind the wheel. 

Floor Mats

Before you track mud, dirt and snow all over your car, put down a series of rubber floor mats to keep water at bay. It’s almost impossible to get all the snow off your shoes before you get in the car, so plan to make a mess. It just comes with the territory. With floor mats, you can easily pour the excess fluid into the grass before it gets into your carpet. They come with deep grooves for collecting mud, dirt and melted snow. This is the fastest way to get rid of bacteria while preventing the spread of mold and mildew.

Survival Kit

If you plan on going camping or exploring destinations off the beaten path, bring along everything you might need to survive in snowy conditions, including a firestarter, matches or lighter, compass, flares, back-up radio, paper maps, flashlight, batteries and other camping gear. 

Staying Warm

Winter Clothing

Bring along extra pairs of mittens, gloves, scarves, shoes and socks in case you get wet along the journey. Wearing moist clothing increases your chances of hypothermia. Store these items in a waterproof bag. Pack work gloves with a strong grip so you can still change a tire in the snow. Keep your feet warm with waterproof hiking boots.

Blankets

Load up on warm blankets and fabrics, including a sleeping bag, so you don’t have to worry about freezing to death if you have to spend the night in your car. Look for products made with fleece and thermal materials that will keep you warm without taking up a lot of space.

Vehicle Maintenance Items

• Brush or scraper for cleaning off your windows

• Snow shovel for getting your car out of the snow

• Spare tire with a jack and toolbox

• Tire gauge and air compressor for refilling your tires. Remember that cold weather tends to sap air pressure.

• Duct tape and insulation for sealing broken windows and vents

• Tire chains or recovery bands for getting your car out of the snow. You can also use traction pads or carry around large containers of salt and sand for breaking up the ice. 

• Jumper cables

• Windshield cleaner (you’ll go through it fast)

Winter driving means stocking up on more items, but it’s also important to stay organized when hauling around all this extra gear. Make sure you can find these items when disaster strikes. To make more room in your car, use under seat storage. It keeps things out of the way without limiting occupancy. Store items based on categories so you always know the right place to look. You also don’t want to store your food and clothes next to the WD-40. Wrap fluids and containers in leak-proof bags to avoid making a mess. 

Once you assemble everything on this list, you will have everything you need to get through winter in one piece. Slow down on the road and give yourself some additional peace of mind.