BELLINGHAM — Rain and winter weather are coming back to Washington after the state’s dry spell, and as you may have prepared your home for rain, making sure your car is ready for winter weather is also extremely important.
Before harsh rain and ice hit, there are a few ways you can prepare your car for a safe winter, and learn how to drive safely in rain and snow.
How to prepare
American Family Insurance advises preparing your car for winter with these six steps:
- Replace tires or put on snow tires before the first snowfall.
- Get your car serviced to fix any issues.
- Check your battery as winter weather can impact battery performance.
- Fill your wiper fluid.
- Check the coolant level to prevent it from freezing.
- Make sure you have chains for your car and know how to put them on.
Allstate Insurance also recommends getting a tune-up, as well as several other items:
- Check your tires, as colder weather can lower tire pressure.
- Examine your car’s exterior, such as brake lights, windshield wipers and headlights.
- Make a winter emergency kit for your car that includes an ice scraper, gloves, a shovel, boots and sand or cat litter.
- In severe cold, keep your doors from freezing closed all season long by spraying cooking oil along the rubber seals on your door. Remove excess oil with a paper towel.
Bridgestone Tire also says to consider snow tires, and recommends continuing to check tire pressure regularly throughout the winter and fall. Bridgestone’s other advice to winterize your car includes:
- Get your battery, belts, cooling system, brakes, spark plugs and wires checked.
- Install winter wiper blades.
- Maintain full wiper fluid throughout the fall and winter.
- Pack a winter safety kit to keep in your car that includes an ice scraper, cat litter, warm clothes and other necessities.
- Make sure your rear-window defroster is in good condition.
Driving safely
The Washington State Department of Transportation offers tips to drive safely in winter weather:
- Drive with slower acceleration and slower speeds.
- Keep extra space around your vehicle by leaving space between vehicles and giving yourself more time and space to stop.
- Do not use cruise control.
- Slow down when approaching intersections, bridges, shaded spots or ramps.
- Check chain and traction tire requirements, and know how to put chains on your car.
- If you are driving behind a snowplow, slow down and give the plow space between your vehicle.
