Photo Credit: Jabzg on Flickr

Hopefully you are lucky enough to live in the land of palm trees and beaches this winter season. But for the rest of us, winter means cold, snow, ice, and extra care for our vehicles to keep them safe and running properly. Hope these five simple tips help you out!

1. Always leave in plenty of time. Guilty of being the world’s greatest protagonist, I have to force myself, in the winter, to always head out for my destination with time to spare. Driving too fast on icy roads puts you and others at risk. You will need to brake earlier than normal, and start out slow from stop lights. Trust me, revving the engine and letting others watch your tires spinning is not considered a winter sport.

2. Keep your windshield and windows clear of snow. Of course, if you are not running late (see tip #1, above for appropriate preaching on that subject), you will have plenty of time to scrape ice off the windows, and knock snow from the vehicle. We have all seen the driver who is hunched over the steering wheel, trying to see through a 10″ clearing on the windshield. A much-deserved back ache is not the only risk here. Driving safe means having 100% visibility to the road and your surroundings.

3. Be smart and have your vehicle ready before winter! Need new tires, winter/snow wiper blades, winter blend washer fluid or brakes checked? Is your engine heating system ready for sub-freezing temperatures? You do not want to wait till it is freezing out to take care of these things. Besides, repair shops/auto supply stores will be very busy, taking care of those other people – you know, the ones who did not plan ahead!

4. Use caution on ice and snow. To avoid skidding, break gently. If you do start sliding, slowly ease up on the gas pedal and turn the front wheels in the direction the vehicle is sliding. When it is straight again, you can lightly press on the brakes, but if you do this too hard, you can go into a spin. Use the lower gears on your vehicle for extra needed traction, especially on hills. Be extra cautious on bridges and overpasses there ice tends to form first. Do not use cruise control on icy or wet pavement – it can hydroplane and you will go flying. Again, not a winter sport!

5. Have provisions on hand. Hopefully you will never need to use any of these because you are stranded or stuck in the snow. But common sense prevails and tells us (well, most of us) to be ready just-in-case. Your vehicle should have a snow brush, ice scraper, shovel, flashlight, jumper cables, warning devices and some type of abrasive material. Kitty litter is my favorite even though I do not have any cats – I just like the cute commercials on TV and figure I can help support their industry. Of course blankets, boots and gloves are musts as well. For longer trips, you should have food and water provisions. If possible, always have a cell phone and car charger for it.

With planning in advance – for yourself and your vehicle- and paying attention to the weather conditions, you can drive safely and stress-free even in winter’s harshest storms.