How To Be Prepared For Cold Weather When You Travel

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The recent extremely cold weather due to the Polar Vortex sending below zero temperatures into the United States seemed to have caught many people off guard. Here are seven simple ways to prepare your vehicle for cold weather when you travel.

1. Check your spare. Take your spare tire to a tire repair place and have them check to make sure it is holding air, and is full of air.
2. Make sure you have a jack and a lug wrench in your car. Nothing is worse than having a flat tire and not having a jack in your car. This simple task can save you lots of grief later.
3. Keep a bag of sand or kitty litter in your trunk. The extra weight can give you added traction on slick roads. And, if you get stuck, you can put some sand or little under your tires to help get moving again.
4. Put a blanket, an extra pair of gloves, and a warm hat on your back seat. If you get stranded on the road, these few items will help you keep warm while you wait to be rescued.
5. Make a “survival kit” of snacks to keep in the car. Nuts, dried fruits, peanut butter crackers, and a couple bottles of water can be life saving if you get lost or stuck on an icy road.
6. Get a sturdy ice scraper and a snow brush to keep in your car. Keeping your windshield clear of ice, and brushing snow off of your car makes driving safer for you and others on the road.
7. Emergency flares or reflectors will help your car be seen by other drivers, and help prevent a collision if your car stalls on the road.

Taking a few minutes to prepare your car for the worst during cold weather can help make sure you survive in the cold winter months.