Your Vehicle Guide to Winter Safety

The snow and the ice are on their way, and what better way to prepare for them than to learn a bit more than you already know about winter safety. Winter safety is regarded as one of the most important topics for new vehicle owners, but it is just as important for those who have been driving for quite some time. If you want to stay extra safe this winter, and ensure your car performs well, read on and find out how for more information. 

The Winter Fluid Edition

Just because it is cold outside, and you have to don a pair of gloves, a hat and a coat, it does not mean that general car maintenance is not necessary. In fact, people tend to have more problems with their cars in the winter than in any other season, including the fall. Winter safety begins with a car that is well taken care of. Do not stop checking your oil just because the weather dropped; it can and will still need to be changed on occasion, and topped off. The cold does not stop it from being used. The same goes for fluid checks across the board. Windshield wiper fluid is used just as much in the winter, due to dirt getting mixed with snow and ending up on your windshield. Be sure to check all of your fluids just as regularly during the winter as you do during the summer or spring. 

Listen to Your Breaks

Your brakes are even more important in the winter than they are in the summer or spring. And seeing as they are considered one of, if not the most important aspect of your vehicle already, that is no small sentiment. Thus it is imperative that you “listen” to your brakes during the winter. This does not mean attempting to diagnose any issues yourself; it means accepting or recognizing issues you are having. Does it take you longer to brake than usual? Are your brakes vibrating, or making strange sounds? In the winter a lot of factors can make brakes behave strangely, but none of them should be ignored or assumed to be “normal.” If you notice anything strange about your brakes, or if your vehicle is handling different than usual, then you should bring it in to a shop immediately, or as soon as possible. This is a big part of winter safety; just as your body aches or pains to tell you things, your car will certainly have its ways of telling you things as well. And while you may not know what those things are, or be able to diagnose them, you can listen to them.

More Winter Safety Tips

Winter safety does not stop with a good car in working order; it comes down to you as a driver. Aggressive driving can be fatal in the winter, and a break down can be dangerous.