Getting Ready For "Ups & Downs" Of Winter Driving

The unusually warm weather through much of November has perhaps made many drivers complacent! However, the stretch of nice weather will be coming to an end! One of these mornings we will wake up to a dose of reality with snow coming down and the wind howling! The Canadian Automobile Association is reminding South Shore motorists to get ready before the first storm! The CAA's Gary Howard tells us ...  your vehicle needs to be road ready, you should have a safety kit on board and let someone know where you're going if you head out on a trip!



Here are tips on how to be prepared:
• Let others know your itinerary before you go out on the road.
• Strongly consider putting winter tires on your vehicle, regardless of your area’s snow accumulation. Rubber in all-season tires starts to lose elasticity and harden at around 7°C, significantly reducing the tire’s ability to grip the road. Winter tires harden at around -40°C, allowing them to maintain elasticity in much colder temperatures.
• Carry a fully charged cell phone to call a friend or roadside assistance if needed.
• Take your car into your local service technician to have it maintained for the seasonal transition. This service can include having your battery inspected for wear before the start of the season and ensuring the right grade of oil in your vehicle for optimal winter use.

The CAA also recommends we invest the time in preparing a winter driving kit for our vehicle. According to a poll conducted earlier this year by CAA, only 36 per cent of those surveyed carried a winter driving kit in their vehicle. That means that 64 per cent of Canadians aren’t properly equipped for a winter roadside emergency.

Suggested contents of a winter driving kit include:
• Warm winter gloves, toque and boots
• Blanket or extra clothing
• Bag of sand or kitty litter
• Small shovel
• Ice scraper and/or snow brush
• Snacks for energy
• Extra windshield washer fluid
• First aid kit
• Hardcopy local map (not just a GPS unit)
• Flashlight and batteries
• Flares
• Waterproof matches
• Battery jumper cables

The CAA has an on-line contest underway during this lead-up to Christmas. The Cold Start Contest runs till December 10th and provides a refresher course on winter driving and car maintenance. Here's the link to the contest:  www.caa.ca/coldstart