It’s officially winter. Days are mostly dreary and cold, portending the snow and ice that will soon be upon us. As we can expect from every Indiana winter, streets and roadways will certainly be slick, slushy, and at times, even frozen over. When the winter storms come in, they really make driving conditions dangerous and unpredictable, so it is critical to your safety and the safety of others to use extreme caution and care when driving in such conditions. Accordingly, it is important to remember how to safely operate your vehicle, navigate in winter weather, and manage road emergencies.

Continue reading to review some vital safety tips for winter driving and be sure to pass them along to your friends and family too!

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Winter Driving Tips You Need to Know

You never know what to expect with winter weather, so being prepared is key. One of the most important rules of safe driving that applies all year long is to have your vehicle serviced professionally according to its individual needs and its manufacturer’s maintenance schedule. When your vehicle is in good condition, it is in its safest form. This includes parts, fluids, tires, and more.

Another important part of being prepared is keeping an emergency roadside assistance kit in your vehicle at all times. There are various types of kits available at the stores, all with different items. Choose whichever kit best fits your emergency roadside needs, such as jumper cables, road triangles, flashlight, first aid kit, blanket, and more. See our blog, “Put a Roadside Emergency Kit in Your Car” to get some ideas on how to create your own. Below are some additionally important tips to remember when driving in inclement weather.

Additional Driving Safety Considerations

⚠ Keep at least a half a tank of gas in your vehicle at all times.
⚠ Periodically check for proper tire inflation.
⚠ Do not leave a vehicle running in an enclosed garage.
⚠ Always wear your seat-belt.
⚠ Always ask passengers to buckle up too.
⚠ Never drive when you are too tired or drowsy.
⚠ Always keep your eyes on the direction you are steering.
⚠ Avoid using the parking brake in wet or slick conditions.
⚠ Avoid using cruise control in wet or slick conditions.
⚠ Accelerate and Brake slowly on wet or snowy roads.

Long Distance Driving Safety

⚠ Have your vehicle serviced before you leave.
⚠ Watch the weather before you leave to be prepared
⚠ Be sure you fully-charge your car phone and bring an emergency charging unit.
⚠ Delay leaving if weather is too extreme.
⚠ Check your emergency roadside kit and refill as needed.
⚠ Check that your exhaust pipe is not clogged with snow.
⚠ Pack extra blankets.

⚠ If you get stuck in the snow, stay with your vehicle and call for help.

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Call Zore’s Inc. at 317-247-8484 for friendly 24 hour towing, recovery, and roadside assistance and advice in Central Indiana. We open a family-owned and operated business for 90 years, so you can trust us for prompt and professional service. We are open 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and 365 days a year, so our certified tow truck operators can be there for you anytime, any day! Request free estimates, anytime.

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❶ Have a Winter Emergency Roadside Kit

Whether it is winter, summer, spring, or fall, it is wise to have a roadside emergency kit in your vehicle at all times. These kits can come in anything from 30-piece kits, to 70-piece kits, and larger. The right kit for you depends on the size of your vehicle, your town’s geography, and your driving practices. Such kits should include basic materials like a spare tire, gloves, tire jack, jumper cables, road triangles, torque wrench, tire pressure gauge, flashlight, and a blanket. More thorough kits might include a screwdriver set, sockets, electrical tape, emergency flares, hazard flags, reflective gear, AA batteries, fire extinguisher, pliers, utility knife, and even a small medical kit.

❷ Pay Close Attention to Your Tires

When temperatures are cold or below freezing, your tires lose pressure more quickly. As a result, tires lose proper connection to the road surface. With a loss of traction, you put yourself at risk of losing control of your vehicle in icy or wet conditions. Before each drive, always check that your tires are fully inflated. At least once per month, be sure to measure the tire pressure too. Check the tag within the driver’s-side doorjamb or your owner’s manual for recommended tire pressure for your make and model car. Also with tires, be sure there is plenty of tread left. Use the “penny test” to see if you are ready to replace your tires: insert the penny in between your tire tread, and if Lincoln’s head is higher than the tread, you need new tires soon.

❸ Take Care of Your Car Battery

Just like your tires, your car battery is also affected by cold weather and temperatures. An extended period of freezing cold weather will pull the voltage from car batteries, and eventually prevent the car from starting altogether. To make matters worse, cold temperatures also thicken automotive fluid, which makes your vehicle’s components (like the battery) work harder, thus using up more power. To avoid this problem, be sure you stay on top of routine battery maintenance, as well as all your other factory scheduled measures, such as fluid changes and tune-ups. Read our blog, “The Do’s and Don’ts to Automotive Battery Maintenance” to learn what you need to know about taking care of your car battery all year long.

How to Get 24 Hour Roadside Assistance Anywhere in Central Indiana

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Call Zore’s Towing at 317-247-8484 for 24 hour roadside assistance and towing services in Indianapolis and throughout Central Indiana. Our friendly staff is waiting by the phones, ready to help you get back on the road, safe and sound. We operate 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and 365 days a year, so you can always count on us. Request a free estimate, today.

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Top Safety Tips for Driving in the Winter