With winter coming, you’ll need to be sure that both you and your vehicle are ready to handle the snow and freezing temperatures. If you haven’t prepared your car for the winter, now is the time to do it. By taking some time to plan and work beforehand, you’ll be ready for any issues that might arise on the road this winter.

Make Sure Your Tires Are Properly Inflated

Before driving in adverse weather, you’ll want to make sure that your tires are properly inflated. This will allow them to grip the road more securely. Approximately four people die in auto accidents every hour, and your safety on the road is important. If your tires can’t grip the road during an accident, your chances of being one of them go up. Take some time to check your tire pressure and get them properly inflated before you need them to be.

Have Your Brakes Checked

Did you know that if you haven’t had your vehicle inspected before the winter and you get in an accident, you could be sued for negligence? There are two degrees of negligence, simple and gross. And being charged with either will make your life miserable. Keep yourself and others safe on the road by getting your brakes checked. That way, you’ll know for sure that you can stop your car in the event of an accident. Good brakes are essential in bad weather. Since the roads get more slippery, you’ll be relying on your car to stop even when road conditions make it difficult to do so.

Remember to Drive Further Back From Other Cars

When the weather is bad, you need to give other cars space on the road. That way, if you need to stop suddenly, you’ll have plenty of space in which to do so. If you keep your usual amount of space between you and the car ahead of you, that might not give you enough time to stop. You’ll rear-end the other person. At best, this will be an irritating accident. At worst, it could be a tragedy. Additionally, the winter weather can cause other motorists to lose control of their vehicles. For instance, according to a study by Knott Laboratory, a 35-mph crosswind can put as much as 3,440 pounds of force on a trailer. So remember to slow down and give other drivers space on the road.

Keep Supplies in Your Car

Before the weather gets bad, make sure that you have everything you need in order to stay safe if your car can’t make it home. If you get stranded because of bad weather or car trouble, will you be safe in your car overnight? Make sure that you have warm clothes and blankets packed in your car just in case. You’ll also want some non-perishable food, water, and a first-aid kit. While you might feel like it is overkill to pack an emergency kit when you aren’t planning to go any further than usual, it could potentially save your life.

Get Rid of Any Clutter

It’s important to keep emergency supplies in your vehicle in case of an emergency but it’s also important to make sure that you can easily access those items, including a First-Aid kit. It’s not uncommon for a vehicle to have some clutter. After all, your car is like your second home. But if getting rid of clutter in your home can eliminate 40% of housework, just imagine what getting rid of clutter in your vehicle will do. Decluttering your car will also make sure that your kids’ wet boots are actually touching the floor mats and not anything important.

Know What To Do In Any Emergency

Think about all the things that could go wrong on the road this winter. Do you know what to do in each of those situations? It is essential that you figure these things out before you end up dealing with them. You should know how you’ll survive in your car if you’re stranded in a blizzard or what to do if you’re in an accident. By planning out your response ahead of time, you can think logically and practically about what you’ll do. Then you can get everything ready to put that plan into place if and when the time comes. The better prepared you are, the easier an otherwise impossible situation will be.

Getting your car ready for winter means considering a few different angles. You need to protect your car, yourself, and other drivers during potentially dangerous weather. Take care of things in advance so that you’ll be able to get through the winter with ease.