It’s the Most Wonderful (and Busiest) Time of the Year – Winter Driving Tips

By Shelby Fix, Car Coach 2.0™

With one of the busiest times of the year approaching, drivers need to keep safety in mind. The holiday season can be the happiest time of the year, but it also means temperatures are dropping, traveling is increased and more dangerous road conditions.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) created an interactive Winter Driving Tips website to help all drivers be prepared for winter driving. Below are a list of tips that NHTSA highlights on their website to help spread the word to drivers about the importance of preparing their vehicles for driving on wet, icy or snowy roads.

• Get your car serviced – Start the season off right with a visit to your mechanic for a tune-up and other routine maintenance. Have your entire vehicle checked thoroughly for leaks, badly worn hoses, or other needed parts, repairs and replacements.

• Inspect your tires – Regardless of weather conditions, inspect your tires at least once a month and before long road trips. If you plan to use snow tires, have them installed before a snow storm hits. Remember that as the temperature outside drops, so does tire inflation pressure. Make sure each tire is filled to the vehicle manufacturer’s recommended inflation pressure.

• Know your car – Every vehicle handles differently; this is particularly true when driving on wet, icy or snowy roads. Take time now to learn how your vehicle handles under winter weather driving conditions.

• Check your VIN – No matter the season use our VIN Look-up Tool at safercar.gov to make sure your vehicle is recall free.

• Check your battery – When temperatures drop, so does battery power. For gasoline or diesel engines, it takes more battery power to start your vehicle in cold weather. For electric and hybrid-electric vehicles, the driving range is reduced and the battery systems work better after they warm up.

• Stock your vehicle – Carry items in your vehicle to handle common winter driving-related tasks, such as cleaning off your windshield, as well as any supplies you might need in an emergency.

For additional winter weather driving tips, visit:

ShelbyFix.com

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