National Safe Driving Week – Winterize your vehicle
December 1 to 7 is National Safe Driving Week. As the winter months have made their arrival, Canadians should winter-proof their vehicles to make driving easier, safer and more reliable.
5 points to keep in mind when preparing your vehicle for winter:
- Ensure your lights are working properly
In the winter especially, vehicles can be harder to see on the roads, so it’s very important to insure that you are seen. Replace any lights that are not in good working condition (headlights, brake lights or other lights on your vehicle). This will also ensure that you are seeing the road in front of you properly. - Make sure you have a fully-charged battery
We should test our batteries before cold weather hits. If it’s not in great condition, consider changing it for a new one before the current one fails. In cold weather, a depleted battery might not be enough to start your vehicle. - Install proper tires
Transport Canada recommends that we install winter tires in sets of four to help maintain control and stability of our vehicles in icy conditions. We should not use tires that are worn close to the tread-wear indicator, as this reduces traction, something we want to avoid when roads are covered in snow. We should also insure that our brakes are working well. You can read our latest article aboutWinter Tire Safety for additional information. - Equip your vehicle with good windshield wipers
An accumulation of snow or ice can reduce visibility. That is why our vehicles should be equipped with good windshield wipers. We should also fill up on winter windshield washer fluid and keep a second jug in our vehicle at all times. - Always keep a brush and scraper in your vehicle
Be prepared to brush snow or scrape ice off your car. You never know when snow will surprise you.
Driving in the winter is always more challenging, even to the most experienced of drivers. You should always ensure that your vehicle is well prepared to face the elements. Always keep a safe distance between you and the car in front of you and avoid driving in poor visibility and bad weather conditions entirely.
CLG Injury Law has over 28 years of experience advocating for clients who have suffered injuries following a motor vehicle accident. You can find additional information on driver safety by browsing our website.
