Best Ways to Prep Your Car For Winter
As summer draws to a close, you and your family may be focusing on the seasons ahead, the holidays, and making plans with friends or extended family for special occasions. As you prepare for the colder months of the year, it is also important to prepare your car to keep you safe in the cold weather and avoid any accidents while on the road. At Murphy, Falcon & Murphy, we’re here to help our community stay safe on the roads throughout the year, but if you or a loved one are injured in a winter car accident, our team may be able to help. Contact us today to learn more and to get started with a consultation about your case.
A key component of keeping yourself safe and on the road is being able to see where you’re going, avoid potential dangers, and prepare for any obstacles on the road. With this in mind, it stands to reason that your windshield will be one of the first parts of your vehicle you’ll need to prepare for the wintertime. Make sure that your windshield wipers are functioning properly and smoothly so that they’re able to wipe away any debris, water, or snow in your line of vision. Be sure to double-check your wiper blades, as well, to ensure that they are not too old or starting to crack, as this can affect their ability to function properly. Lastly, be sure to change your windshield washer fluid to a winter-ready formula that helps to de-ice and defrost your field of view. This way, you’ll avoid damaging your windshield and wipers when trying to wipe away debris, ice, snow, or frost.
Prep Your Windshield
Staying in control of your vehicle while you’re on the road is undoubtedly the most important part of keeping yourself safe, and having tires that are meant to handle poor weather conditions easily will help. Few things can contribute to unsafe driving experiences than sliding on ice, frost, or water while on the road, so be sure your car has tires that are meant to keep you on track. Before winter rolls around, check the tread on your current tires, and if it’s looking worn, cracked, or even bald, then it is in your best interest to get new tires or switch the current ones out for tires with siping to help you grip the road. In addition to siping, you can also obtain studded tires, which are great options for vehicles that are lighter on the road or have mismatched weight (such as pickup trucks) so your car is weighted and has better traction in winter conditions.
Get Winter-Specific Tires
While you’re double checking on the tread and ability to grip the road with your tires, be sure to also check the pressure in your tires, as tires that are too full or not fully inflated will be less likely to safely keep you on the road. If you are unsure about the proper pressure you should have on your tires, your best bet is to take your vehicle to a tire specialist or the dealership you purchased the car from and have them check it for you. With many tire inspection services, you’ll get help from vehicle experts on the pressure you should keep your tires at, as well as other safety and maintenance tips, to help you avoid accidents or breakdowns on the road in the wintertime.
Ensure Your Tires are at Proper PSI
One of the most important parts of keeping your car healthy and running smoothly during the wintertime is ensuring that you have adequate power to turn your car on and keep it running. Your battery’s health may be negatively affected by the harsh temperatures of the Baltimore winter, so be sure to check that it’s sufficiently charged and capable of starting your car, keeping your engine running while idling, and more.
Check Your Battery Health
Avoiding poor weather conditions and stressful road situations is ideal, but when you’re caught unexpectedly in inclement weather, you may have no other choice but to drive through it to get to a safer location. That’s why it’s a good idea to carry helpful equipment for winter roads, such as tire chains if they’re appropriate for your vehicle, jumper cables, and an emergency kit with first aid supplies, non-perishable snacks, and additional power for your phone so you can call for help if needed.
Have Helpful Equipment
If you or a loved one had been injured in a car accident while driving Baltimore roads in the winter, don’t hesitate to reach out to our compassionate and dedicated personal injury attorneys. Get started with a consultation by contacting us today.