Be Prepared for Winter Driving

In addition to annual maintenance, here are some tips to winterize your vehicle:

• Test your battery; battery power drops as the temperature drops

• Have winter tires with a deeper, more flexible tread put on your car

• If using all-season tires, check the tread on your tires and replace if less than 2/32 of an inch

• Always check the tire pressure; tire pressure drops as the temperature drops

• Check your wiper blades, replace them if needed

• Add wiper fluid rated for -30 degrees

• Keep your gas tank at least half full to avoid gas line freeze and in case you happen to become stranded in your vehicle in a storm

Before you head out on the road

• Clean your car’s external camera lenses and side view mirrors so you’ll be able to see what’s around you

• Remove dirt, ice and snow from sensors to allow the assistive-driving features like automatic emergency braking to work

• In frigid weather, you may want to warm up the car before you drive it

• To prevent carbon monoxide poisoning, never leave a vehicle running in your garage – even with the garage door up

• If the forecast looks iffy, wait out the storm if possible; if you must travel, share your travel plans and route with someone before you leave

How to Avoid a Crash

AAA offers the following driving tips:

• Avoid using cruise control in wintry conditions

• Steer in the direction of a skid, so when your wheels regain traction, you don’t have to overcorrect to stay in your lane

• Accelerate and decelerate slowly

• Absolute emergency. Limited visibility means other vehicles can’t see yours on the