Got Snow? Prepare Your Car and Follow These
Recommendations and You Can Give Winter A Raspberry!
Even
those that love winter would rather race down a hill in a toboggan rather than
careen off the road and into the ditch when the snow starts piling up. If you
take the time to ready your vehicle for the upcoming snow season, you will not
cringe when you hear the snow plow go by while you lay cuddled under the warm
blankets.
Keep
your vehicle regularly maintained and not only will you be safer behind the
wheel, you will be doing the environment a favour as well.
These
recommendations will insure you are ready for winter and will save you money. Finish them as soon as possible and you can
enjoy the winter wonderland while others scramble through the snow to get what
they need for their emergency kit and wait in line to get their tires changed.
Slow
Down! If you drive 100 km/hr (60
miles/hr) instead of 115 km/hr (70 miles/hr), you will lower your fuel
consumption by as much as 12%. If you do
a lot of city driving and you know you will have a long wait, such as at a
train crossing, turn off your engine.
Idling for more than a couple of minutes burns unnecessary fuel.
Keep
your windows up. When you drive with the
windows rolled down, you create an aerodynamic drag that will increase your
fuel consumption by at least 10%. HINT! Driving with your windows down and air conditioning
on can burn as much as 15% more fuel.
You
can use up to 4% more fuel if your tire pressures are uneven. Make it a habit to make sure your tire
pressures are equal on a regular basis.
HINT! Check it whenever you
change your oil or every 5000 KMs (3000 miles).
Do
not neglect the regular vehicle maintenance schedule in your owner's
manual. You will lose upwards of 4% in
fuel economy if you ignore those regular checkups.
Fill
your gas tank on cooler mornings. Fuel
pumps are calculated by volume. Gas is
denser when it is cold. It is worth
putting on that pair of gloves to get the most gas for your money. HINT: During the cold winter months, do not
let your gas gauge go below one half of a tank.
You will be thankful for the fuel if you become stranded in a storm.
Installing
an electric block heater will make your vehicle start easier as the engine will
already be warm. Inside, the temperature
will rise quickly giving you a more comfortable ride.
Book
an appointment with your mechanic. Ask
if they have a winter preparation package as most service stations do. On this visit is, make sure all of your
vehicle's components are in good condition.
Also, you should insure all fluids are topped off and the washer fluid
container is full. HINT: Never fill your
windshield washer container with water.
It will freeze when the temperature drops below 0 degrees Celsius (32
Fahrenheit).
Always keep a vehicle maintenance record. This can be as simple as having a pad of
paper in the glove box to document service calls.
When
your vehicle's underside gets coated in salt, on a nice day, put a sprinkler on
the hardest spray setting and turn it on under the vehicle, moving it around to
cover the entire area. You will prevent salt from corroding things like your
exhaust pipe.
Plan
your route so you do not have to backtrack to stores when you have a bunch of
errands to run. You will save time and
fuel. HINT: Whenever you take a shorter route, putting
fewer kilometres on your odometer is an added bonus.
If
you get stranded, check to be sure your exhaust pipe is clear so you can turn
on your vehicle for about 10 minutes every half hour to keep warm. HINT: Stay with your car whenever
possible. Only leave if you know where
you are and that you can make it to safety. A cold car is much better shelter
than a freezing snow bank.
Never
leave home without your cell phone and make sure it is fully charged. HINT: A car charger is a great investment.
Make
it a habit to let someone know your planned route and your estimated arrival
time when travelling longer distances or if poor weather is forecast. If you have an issue, anyone looking for you
will know where to start. Always check
for weather updates just prior to your departure and be prepared to delay your
trip. Anything less than a last opportunity to pick up a 10 million dollar
check is not worth your safety and, even then, well, could you not just live
with your current bank balance and eat baloney for a while?
Encountering the 'Bridge Freezes Before Road'
sign should make you wake up and pay attention.
Cold air gathering under a bridge or overpass will cool the temperature
of the road faster which may cause black ice to form. Decrease your speed and proceed with
caution. HINT: If you hit black ice, try
to steer the vehicle straight and let the antilock brakes do their job. You will feel the brake pedal pulsating under
your foot. Resist the urge to pump the
brake, just continue to apply steady pressure until you can regain control of
the vehicle.
Make
sure you know the jargon terms relating to the weather and what they mean. Freezing Rain: Rain freezes as it hits the
road creating a coat of ice on roadways.
Sleet: Rain becomes ice pellets
which land on the road making it slippery.
Wind Chill: What the temperature
'feels like' outside rather than what the thermometer reads. Winter Weather Advisory: Poor weather is
expected and you should take precautions.
Winter Storm Watch: A winter
storm is likely in your area. You should
be ready. Winter Storm Warning: A winter
storm is imminent. Be sure your
emergency supplies are well stocked.
Blizzard Warning: High winds are
expected to produce blowing snow that will considerably reduce visibility. You should not be driving. Frost/Freeze Warning: Temperatures that are
below freezing are expected. Flash
Freeze: Temperatures above zero degrees
Celsius are expected to drop rapidly to below zero degrees Celsius. Any water on the road will freeze, sometimes
in a matter of minutes. Driving is not
advisable.
If
you do not have a road side assistance program, you may want to consider
purchasing a membership with AAA (American Automobile Association) or a similar
membership in your area. Decent coverage
is available for just over $100 a year.
They offer many beneficial services that include towing, changing a flat
tire, paying for a locksmith when you lock your keys in your vehicle and travel
insurance. You will also enjoy perks at a selection of businesses that may
include free upgrades to hotel rooms, discounts at restaurant chains or value
added services when you present your membership card.
When
you wake up to snow covering your vehicle, take the time to clear it off
completely. Snow left on your car can
blow off, possibly blinding the driver behind you and you can get a fine from
the police. Also, make sure all of you
exterior mirrors are clear of ice and snow and give your headlights and taillights
a wipe with a damp cloth before heading out.
Insure
your head is positioned correctly when you are in the driver's seat. A head rest should reach, at least, as high
as the top of your ears. This will give
you maximum protection from whiplash in the case of a rear end collision.
Have
your car washed and a coat of wax applied before the temperature drops below 12
degrees Celsius (53 Fahrenheit). Waxing
will help protect against salt damage and snow will fall off easier.
Purchase a set of water resistant vinyl or
rubber car mats. They will protect the
carpeted mats that came with your vehicle and make clean up a breeze. After
all, do you not have better things to do on a Saturday morning than shampooing
your car mats in the garage?
Invest in a set of good winter tires. Even if you have what are characterized as
'all season' tires, they will never give you the performance a winter tire can
provide so do not be fooled by overzealous sales pitches . Also, there is a trend toward making the use
of winter tires law. HINT: Put your
winter tires on by October 1st and avoid the long wait that will happen after
the first snow fall.
Having
a multi tool in your vehicle that can break a window and cut a seatbelt could
prove to be a lifesaver. You can
purchase a dual model for about $15 (US dollars).
Keep
some lock de-icer at home and at your place of work. Locks can freeze in cold weather. De-icer works, but only if it is not in your
glove box when you need it. No
de-icer? A hair dryer will do the job as
long as you have some place to plug it in.
HINT: Never try to force you key
when trying to unlock a frozen door.
They break a lot easier than you would think.
Use
a cover if you have to park on the street to protect your vehicle from
excessive salt. Even if you park in a
driveway, a vehicle cover will keep the snow off thus saving you cleaning time
and preserving your paint job. HINT:
If you purchase a bright colour and become stranded, put the cover on
the car so you can readily be seen. The
cover will act as an insulator too, helping to keep the heat in the vehicle and
guarding against drafts.
If
you find yourself stuck in snow without a shovel, a hubcap is a good
substitution.
Leave
emergency contact information in your glove compartment. In the unfortunate case of an accident,
police will check there for any available information they can use to reach a
relative or friend. Please do not leave
the contact information of someone you frequently travel with. Also, put a
contact on your cell phone under the heading 'ICO' (In case of emergency).
If
you are stranded in your vehicle on the side of the road, put a flare about 15 feet (4 1/2 Meters) behind
your car. Many drivers have the bad
habit of drifting into the shoulder. A
flare is guaranteed to get their attention and is also a good tool to alert
other drivers that you require assistance.
Booster
cables are only good to have if you know how to use them. Clamp one red booster cable to the booster vehicle's
positive post. Clamp one red booster
cable to the stalled vehicle's positive post.
Clamp the black booster cable to the booster vehicle's negative
post. Clamp the black booster cable to
any bare metal surface under the hood of the stalled vehicle. Start the booster vehicle and let it idle for
a few minutes. After a few minutes,
start the stalled vehicle and let it idle for a few minutes. Disconnect the black booster cable from the
formerly stalled vehicle. Disconnect the
black booster from the booster car.
Disconnect the red booster cable from the booster car. Disconnect the red booster cable from the
formerly stalled vehicle. Drive, or at
least run, the once stalled car for approximately one half hour in order for
the battery to get sufficiently recharged. PLEASE NOTE: Occasionally you will see blue and black
booster cables. Black is always the
negative cable, any other colour used is a positive cable.
Learn
how to change your vehicle's windshield wipers and keep a spare pair in your
vehicle. If a wiper breaks during travel
and you do not have a spare to install, or if you do not know how to install
the blade, you are stuck where you are until help arrives.
When
the supplies on this list are kept in every vehicle you use, you will be
capable to handle most emergencies. Emergency
supplies include (but are not limited to) the following: Properly inflated spare tire that has been
checked for leaks, wrench and jack that are specific to the vehicle,
collapsible shovel, battery booster cables,
bag of non clumping kitty litter (to be used for traction), general tool
kit, flashlight with extra batteries (put the batteries backwards in the
flashlight to guard against it being accidently turned on), battery powered
lantern to use when reading (again, reverse the batteries), reflective 'help'
sign you can put in your back window, compass, first aid kit, feminine
products, jug of windshield cleaner
(properly mixed), ice scraper, snow brush (one with a handle that can be
extended to reach over the roof of your vehicle is a good choice),
non-perishable high energy foods (dried fruit, cashews or other nuts, protein
bars, cookies), 4 litres of water for
every available seat, flares, extra warm clothing (mittens, gloves, scarves,
hats and a good pair of snow boots), transistor radio, ABC fire extinguisher,
plastic bags (for sanitary purposes), three day supply of all prescription
medications for everyone in your home, a few magazines and books (boredom will
quickly set in if you are stranded), a
small amount of cash (well hidden) and a disposable cell phone (check
occasionally to see if it needs charging). This may seem like an excessive
exercise but ask anyone who has been stranded without proper preparations which
emergency item they wish had been available to them and you can guarantee it is
on the above list. If you take care when packing, minimal space will be needed.
Utilize the spaces around the spare tire and fill the snow boots with supplies.
In addition to keeping you hydrated, the water will provide extra weight useful
for traction purposes.
All
of the preceding recommendations are important.
It would prove difficult to prioritize one over another as they all
serve valuable purposes.
If
you do have to choose only some, due to budget or other constraints, adopt the
elements that deal with safety first.
When
you make safe driving a priority, you help make sure others, including
yourself, always reach their destinations.
If
you are going to be a statistic, you should endeavour to be a positive one.
Pauline
Milner
