When the weather outside is frightful, driving is not so delightful, but if you’ve got places to go — here’s what to know, what to know, what to know!

All singing aside, winter weather requires us to alter our regular driving habits. When the temperature drops and snow and ice start covering the roads, slipping and sliding, low visibility, unsure drivers, and extra wrecks become serious safety concerns. Before heading out in the cold, refresh your knowledge with these winter driving tips. 

 

Winter Driving 101

 

Double Check Your Vehicle Maintenance

As the weather turns cooler, it’s wise to double-check a few items on your vehicle and prepare for the winter ahead.

  • Tires: Inflation pressure drops inside your tires once the cold air appears. When that tire pressure light pops up on your dashboard, check and re-fill the tires that need extra air. You’ll want to refill the tires to the recommended amounts specified for your tires. Unsure if your tires can handle another rough winter? If you’re worried about your tires’ tread (that provides traction), age, or overall condition, have a professional take a look. They will provide answers and solutions to keep your tires in good shape, leading to better driving in winter weather. Bonus points: Don’t forget to travel with a spare! 
  • Windshield Wipers and Fluid: Check your windshield wipers and fluid to ensure the blades are strong enough to wipe the windows thoroughly. If they are dull or old, they may leave a trail of residue behind, prohibiting your line of sight on the road ahead. Be sure also to top off your windshield wiper fluid so you can properly clean your windshield coated with the salt, sand, and dirty snow that the tires kick up. You can stock up on washer fluid while getting your car washed at Jazz 
  • All Lights: Similar to the windshield, winter grime coats the whole exterior of the vehicle, including the lights. Turning blinkers, headlights, and tail lights on a vehicle are all necessary to communicate with other drivers — and they need to be seen, especially while driving in inclement weather or dark evenings. Be sure that all your lights are in working condition, and don’t forget to stop by Jazz Carwash and Detailing for a car wash to remove any grime buildup and allow the lights to do their job. If your headlights are looking yellow and oxidized let us improve your visibility by restoring your lenses to their factory clarity.  Headlight restoration is available any time and does not require an appointment. 
  • Battery: As the temperature outside drops, so does the powering capacity of your vehicle’s battery. Battery power for fully electric and hybrid vehicles drops in cooler weather, and it takes an increase in battery power to start up gasoline and diesel vehicles. No matter what kind of vehicle you drive, double-checking the battery regularly is wise, and having a professional check the battery before winter weather appears is also a good idea. 
  • Floor Mats: If your vehicle has only carpeted floor mats, consider switching them out for sturdier rubbery ones for the winter. Not only will rubber mats help with cleanliness (since rubber is easier to clean than carpet!), but they will also catch the snow and ice from your shoes. Rubber also provides better traction for your feet while pressing the gas and bakes, preventing slipping. Winter brings dirt, mud, salt, and snow into your vehicle, and a professional vacuum and carpet cleaning will help return your interior to its pre-winter cleanliness. If your mats are starting to look a little nasty and worn remeber that Jazz sells WeatherTech products on site, we can also custom order liners for you. 
  • Frequently Wash Your Vehicle: If left unwashed, Ice and Snow Melt chemicals like salt brine and magnesium chloride can cause severe damage to your car’s chrome and finish. To avoid these potential issues, it is best to wash off any remaining residue from these products as soon as possible after a storm.

 

Winter Driving Safety Tips

  • Check Your Safety Technology: Most vehicles come equipped with a variety of safety features. A more common feature is an Anti-Lock Brake System. While driving in winter weather, you’ll want to know if your vehicle has this feature. (You can check the user manual that comes with the car.) If your vehicle does not have an anti-lock brake system, then remember to pump your brakes while coming to a stop. This technique will prevent your tires from locking up on the snow and ice, keeping your vehicle from sliding. 
  • Practice Caution: Wintry conditions provide the best reason to slow down while driving. (Forgive us for sounding like your Driver’s Ed teacher, but it’s important!) Maintaining control over your vehicle on ice or snow-covered roads can be difficult, especially while stopping. It’s wise to lengthen the gap between your car and the vehicles in front of you, so you have extra space to slide (if that were to happen) without colliding. Use this same knowledge in parking lots with extra holiday shoppers and when driving in holiday traffic. If you happen to get a minor scratch or a little bit of paint transfered onto your vehicle we can typically help minimize the damage and make your car look better. Exterior detailing will immediately fix your car! 

 

Safe Travel in Winter Weather 

Since the ice and snow can show up as a slight drizzle or a full-blown blizzard, it’s smart to prepare your vehicle for both the smallest of conditions and an untimely roadside emergency. 

  • Stock Up on Interior Necessities: It’s standard that when wintry weather hits, the ice scraper and snow brush get added to the car. However, by adding these few extra items, you’ll be set up to take care of common winter driving tasks and prepared for potential winter driving emergencies. 
  • Sand or kitty litter: To add additional traction for your tires to get out of a slippery situation. 
  • A snow shovel: In case you encounter deeper snow and need to dig your vehicle out. 
  • Blankets, warming devices, snacks, and water: Just in case you’re stopped on the side of the road and have to wait for assistance. 
  • Jumper cables, flashlights, and flares: Jumper cables might be needed in a variety of situations, but should an emergency happen at night, you’ll want to be able to see to boost your battery until help can arrive. 
  • Extras: External cell phone chargers are critical if you’re stranded in an emergency. Cell phones must be charged to talk to emergency responders and loved ones. And a first aid kit is smart to have on hand for medical emergencies. 
  • Fill Your Tank or Charge Your Battery: You do not want to be stranded in the cold because you’ve run out of gas! Keep your tank as close to full as possible during colder weather. And if you’re on a long road trip, once your gauge hits a quarter of a tank, be on the lookout for a gas station to fill up. For electric and hybrid vehicles, some batteries drain more quickly and have reduced energy at lower temperatures. For this reason, electric vehicles should charge overnight, and you can wake up to a fully-charged battery. 
  • Look Ahead and Plan Your Route: Planning the fastest route to your next location is a great place to start, but you may want to prepare a Plan B for delays and detours. Since wintry conditions can cause road closures, wrecks, and impassable conditions, check the weather forecast for possible storms along your path and check local news in the areas you’ll be driving through to avoid extra delays. 

 

Enjoying the beauty of a white winter requires some preparation and adjustments when driving, so it’s not so frightful. Remember these few tips and tricks when heading out shopping or traveling, and this time of year will be much more delightful.

The variety of service choices and detailing packages makes Jazz Car Wash and Detailing a great place to stop for extra winter vehicle protection. Contact us to book your detailing, and plan to do some shopping too!