Car Safety Tips for Winter
Tennessee weather is a fickle friend, and anyone who’s lived in this beautiful state for long knows the skies can go from sunny to storming in what feels like moments. It’s no different in the winter. While your likelihood of encountering snow and ice varies greatly depending on whether you live in the East Tennessee mountains or the plains in the west, Farm Bureau Insurance of Tennessee believes it’s always important to prepare yourself and your vehicle for cold weather.
First, winterize your car.
Here are some key steps you can take to keep your car in good running condition over the winter.
Check for product recalls via the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration or by calling your local dealership.
Get your car serviced, including checking your tires’ condition, replacing worn or old windshield wipers, and checking all your car’s important fluids.
Test your lights and signals to make sure they’re working properly, so you’ll be able to see, and others can see you in the event of bad weather.
Check your heating system, so you know you can rely on it on frigid days. No one likes driving with frozen fingers!
Stock your car with essentials in case you get stuck in snow or severe traffic. Keep an emergency kit in your car, including a snow shovel, ice scraper, jumper cables, blankets, non-perishable snacks, and a first aid kit. Sand and kitty litter may come in handy, too, if you get stuck on a slippery road.
Read more about how to winterize your car.
Always defrost your windows, mirrors, and lights before driving.
You probably know to turn your heater and defroster on full blast, but here are a few tips to speed up the process.
Use an ice scraper to physically remove ice. And wear some gloves while you do it.
Crack your windows. This might seem counterintuitive but opening your windows slightly while the defroster is on exchanges air and makes defrosting more efficient.
Make a magical deicing solution with one part water and two parts isopropyl or rubbing alcohol. Use a spray bottle to saturate your windshield and watch the ice melt almost instantly thanks to the alcohol’s much lower freezing temperature. You can also use a deicing wiper fluid.
Read more about how to quickly defrost your car windshield and windows.
Know how to drive safely in severe weather.
There are over 150,000 traffic crashes related to snow and sleet annually, according to the NHTSA. While the best tip for driving safely during severe weather is simply “don’t,” we know that sometimes, it’s unavoidable. Make sure you’re prepared to handle the road conditions with these safety tips:
Check weather and road conditions before heading out and plan your route accordingly.
Reduce your speed and keep a good distance from the vehicle in front of you to allow for longer stopping distances.
Use your headlights to increase visibility and make yourself more visible to other drivers.
Be gentle on the brakes, accelerator, and steering wheel to avoid skidding or hydroplaning. Even if your vehicle has 4-wheel drive, your potential for skidding on the road is greater in rainy or snowy conditions.
Avoid sudden movements or sharp turns that can cause loss of control of the vehicle.
Use caution when driving on bridges or overpasses, which tend to freeze before other parts of the road.
If visibility is too low, pull over to a safe location and wait until conditions improve before continuing to drive. Be sure to put your hazard lights on while doing so.
At Farm Bureau Insurance of Tennessee, our favorite tip for driving worry-free this winter is this: Make sure your auto insurance policy is up to date and includes all the coverage that you and your family need. Talk to an agent today.
