Why is it time for drivers to start thinking about winter?

This week saw the first snowfall of the season at Seven Springs ski resort. It’s a good reminder for Pennsylvania drivers that winter is fast approaching.

One of the tasks you need to get done before winter arrives is to prepare your vehicle. Leaving it until after you have already encountered winter conditions on the road puts yourself and others at unnecessary risk. Here are a few things you need to sort:

Traction

Do your tires still have good tread or do they need changing? The better your tread, the less likely you will go sliding off the road on a patch of ice or snow. Putting on winter tires, or at least replacing worn ones is wise. If you are likely to use snow chains at any point, put them in the trunk so you have them when needed.

Visibility

If you have a cracked windscreen, replacing it now is a good idea. The same goes for worn wiper blades  – you’ll be using them a lot in the coming months, and you need them to wipe your windshield clean, not smear it. Ensuring your wiper fluid reservoir is topped up with something that won’t freeze, rather than water, is also crucial.

Get a friend or family member to help you check the lights. One of you can sit and operate the controls, while the other walks around the vehicle checking all lights are working well. Carrying a few spare bulbs is also wise.

Power

Winter can be tough on batteries, so get your car’s battery checked and replace it if it is nearing the end of its life so that you don’t end up stranded in the cold.

Backup kit

Sometimes snow can block roads or crashes can occur which bring traffic to a halt for hours. When the temperatures are low, you can soon get cold if you do not have adequate resources to keep you warm. Stashing some blankets, hats and gloves in the trunk is wise. A brew kit and some spare food can also help to keep your body warm and your spirits high if you end up stranded.

Winter conditions can make a crash more probable, and the consequences worse. Doing all you can to reduce the risk of one is good sense.