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Winter Weather Vehicle Safety Checklist
Dec 6, 2022
To ensure safe travels during the winter months it’s important that your vehicle is operating properly. The following checklist comes from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).
Get Your Car Serviced. Visit your mechanic for a tune-up and ask them to check for leaks, badly worn hoses, or other needed parts, repairs, and replacements. Stock Your Vehicle. Carry items in your vehicle to handle common winter driving-related tasks or supplies you might need in an emergency, including the following:
Pro Tips:
Plan Your Travel and Route. Before heading out, make sure to check the weather, road conditions, and traffic. Don’t rush through your trip and allow plenty of time to get to your destination safely. And always familiarize yourself with directions and maps before you go, even if you use a GPS system, and let others know your route and anticipated arrival time.
Go Over Your Vehicle Safety Checklist
Regardless of the season, inspect your tires at least once a month and before long road trips. It only takes about five minutes. Don’t forget to check your spare tire.
If you plan to use snow tires, have them installed in the fall so you are prepared before it snows. Check out https://www.nhtsa.gov/equipment/tires for tire ratings before buying new ones and look for winter tires with the snowflake symbol.
Look closely at your tread and replace tires that have uneven wear or insufficient tread. Tread should be at least 2/32 of an inch or greater on all tires.