At Clever, we want your winter driving experience to be uneventful! If you’ve ever been stuck on the highway during freezing temperatures watching as your gas gauge creeps toward the red line, you know the sinking gut feeling of being unprepared. That’s why we recommend keeping the gas tank above the halfway point during winter months. In addition, here are some more anxiety-crushing prep tips to help you as you gear-up for winter commutes:
1. Pack a winter driving survival kit. Some things to consider placing in the kit include: snacks, bottled water, blankets, extra gloves and hat, bag of kitty litter or sand, ice scraper, jumper cables, and a flashlight.
2. Make sure your tire tread is covering Lincoln’s forehead on a penny. Tread barely covering the “In God We Trust” on the penny is dangerous.
3. Keep your vision clear by filling up your wiper fluid with freeze-resistant fluid. Good-bye to sleet and snow freezing on your windshield! You won’t even have to rely on defrost to keep the liquid from freezing on your windshield when it makes contact. Double win!
4. Keep up with regular maintenance. Coolant, oil, and battery capacity are all very important during winter months. The best way to make sure you are good to go is to consult a licensed mechanic and ensure that all maintenance to your vehicle is current and up to date per your vehicle manufacturer.
5. As mentioned previously, keep your gas tank at least half full so your car can continue to run and keep you warm if you are stuck in traffic or encounter an emergency for an extended period of time.
6. Drive slowly. Always adjust your speed down to account for lower traction when driving on snow or ice. Now is not the time to rush!
7. Accelerate and decelerate slowly. Apply the gas slowly to regain traction and avoid skids. Don’t try to get moving in a hurry and take time to slow ...
8. Increase your following distance to five to six seconds. This increased margin of safety will provide the longer distance needed if you have to stop.
Safe driving!