15 IMPORTANT THINGS TO KEEP IN YOUR CAR DURING WINTER

Blog Jan 10th, 2022
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Its a cold winter morning. It snowed a bit all night, but you were awakened by clear skies and clear roads. You leave the house for work and find a layer of frozen snow in your car. Open the trunk to get an ice scraper / snow brush, but no. "Damn," you think, "I never bought a new one after mine fell apart last winter!"

 

If you do not have a snow brush, use your hand to remove snow from the car. But you're late for work, so you clear a spot on the windows. "Well, that's okay," you thought as you climbed into the driver's seat. You leave the driveway and start out on the main road. When suddenly a sheet of frozen snow flows onto the windshield of your car. It blocks your eyesight and creates blinding reflections. You can't see! You're trying to use your wipers and then Bang. You will hit the car in front of you who was waiting at a stop sign.

Fortunately, it was a slight collision with no major injuries or damage. However, this accident would have been prevented if you were prepared.

 

There are steps you can take to prevent an accident in the winter. But it never hurts to be prepared for an emergency when a collision occurs. Preparing cars for the winter is essential to staying safe during emergencies in the winter while on the road. If you crash, break, or sit in the snow this winter, being prepared can help. Check out the list below for 15 important things you should keep in your car for the winter.

  1. Robust ice scraper and snow brush. This is one of the most important things you can keep in the car in the winter. You know that a meteorologist is not always right, so the slightest chance of bad weather can leave a few inches of snow on your car. When the weather is cold, put an ice scraper and a snow brush in your car. Snow and ice on cars can be dangerous because they can block your view or fly and hit another car. Always clean the ENTIRE car from snow and ice before driving to avoid a collision.
  2. A Shovel. Buy a small or folding shovel and place it in the trunk. This is useful if your car is stuck in the snow or if you need to clear the driveway to get out.
  3. Gloves and other winter clothes. You have a snow brush and a shovel, but now you have to use them. Wearing gloves and other warm clothing will make everything easier to work with. It also doesn't hurt to have hand warmers in the car. Always be prepared for the cold to prevent frostbite! When your warm, you can clean your car better.
  4. Blankets. Do you have extra blankets at home? Put one in the car. If you get stuck or in a collision, it will cool down quickly, especially if you do not turn on the car. You can't always count on the heater in your car, so make sure you can warm up with a blanket.
  5. Emergency flares or reflectors.Snow storms reduce visibility whether it’s daytime or nighttime. Reflectors will help other cars and emergency vehicles see you if you are stopped on the side of the road.
  6. Rock salt, sand or cat litter. These strong materials help your tires gain traction when your car is in the snow. Place the material near the wheels and in the path of your car to get out of the slippery situation.
  7. First aid Kit. A first aid kit is necessary if someone is injured in a car accident. While it's important all year round, it's one of the most important things to put in a car during the winter, as emergency response time can be slow when it's snowing. With your kit provide basic first aid until help arrives.
  8. Additional windshield washer liquid. Make sure it has antifreeze additives to stop it from freezing. Cleaning your windshield with liquid can improve the sight of a winter storm. 
  9. Small Flashlight. It gets dark early during winter. If you break down or get stuck at night, use a flashlight to find out what's wrong. Along the way you will also be visible to others.
  10. Rope or chain. A tow chain is a great tool for getting your car out of the snow. 
  11. Jump cables. Cold weather can affect the car battery. You cannot start the car when the battery is flat, which means you cannot use the car heater for heating. Waiting for someone to help jump start your car is no fun. If you have jumper cable you can flag someone over to help vs waiting for someone to arrive and help.
  12. Small set of tools. You can fix small car problems with basic tools. Learn how to perform simple self-service so you don't have to wait for help.
  13. While sunglasses are more of a summer accessory, the reflection of the sun in the snow is bright. Use sunglasses when driving to reduce glare.
  14. Phone charger. Try to charge the phone before you travel, but also always put a cell phone charger in your car. If you are stuck or involved in an accident, you need your phone to call for help
  15. Water and snacks. If you get stuck, you can wait for help. The wait can take a long time if the road conditions are not good. Storing water and snacks in the car can be helpful in these situations. Snacks like grain bars are absolutely delicious when you wait for help to arrive. And don't forget snacks for your kids - in such a situation they may get hungry and overwhelmed.

 

* These are all basic things that need to be put in the car in the winter, but before you hit the road, make sure you have gas and good wiper blades. In winter, always keep around a half tank of a fuel in the car and check that the wiper blades work for you. You should also have snow tires to be safe.