Since more crashes involving property damage occur during the winter than any other season, Car & Travel encourages motorists to prepare for adverse cold-weather driving conditions. First, make sure your vehicle is prepared for winter driving:

·  Have the battery and charging system tested, since batteries lose power—as much as 60 percent at zero degrees—as the temperature drops. A fully charged battery in good condition is required to start an engine in cold weather.

·  Have the brakes checked to ensure they work properly and apply smoothly, which helps prevent the wheels from locking on slick surfaces.

·  Make sure the tires are properly inflated. Under-inflated tires can be dangerous, and might suffer damage. Remember, air pressure in tires decreases one to two pounds per square inch for every 10-degree drop in outside temperature.

·  For best snow traction, nothing beats a dedicated snow tire. All-season radials only provide sufficient traction in a snowfall of a half-inch or less. Snow tires have the tread design to provide traction and evacuate snow from between the tread blocks and are constructed from chemical compounds that keep them pliable in severe cold, further aiding traction.

For best snow traction, use the tire size recommended by your vehicle’s manufacturer. Overly wide tires tend to float on top of the snow, reducing grip.

·  Make sure the engine coolant provides anti-freeze protection down to the lowest temperatures you are likely to encounter; -30oF/-34oC is a good guideline.

·  Visibility is critical in adverse weather conditions, so replace worn windshield wipers that streak, and be sure the washer reservoir is filled with a winter solvent that will not freeze. 

·  Keep the gas tank at least half full at all times to minimize condensation buildup that can lead to gas-line freeze-up. If the fuel in your area does not already contain alcohol, use a gas-line “antifreeze” additive, which contains water-dispersing agents, periodically to absorb moisture.

·  Carry a winter driving kit for use in the event of an emergency. The kit should include a small bag of abrasive material (sand, salt or non-clumping cat litter), a small snow shovel, a snow brush and ice scraper, a flashlight with new batteries, window-washer solvent, a cloth or roll of paper towels, warning devices (flares or triangles), jumper cables, drinking water, extra clothes and a blanket.

·  Carry a cellular phone and car charger. Program the phone with important numbers including a reliable roadside service provider that will be able to assist you during inclement weather if you have signed up in advance, such as AAA emergency road service (800-AAA-HELP).

AAA New York’s Approved Auto Repair (AAR) stations offer assistance in preparing your vehicle for winter driving. See the automotive page of AAA.com to find facilities in the Club’s 14 counties in the New York metropolitan region.

Remember to drive with caution on winter roads to help maintain your safety, as well as that of passengers, fellow motorists and roadside workers. AAA recommends the following tips for winter driving:

·  Before starting out in snowy weather, take time to remove the snow from the entire car so it doesn’t blow onto your windshield or the windshields of other drivers. Make sure your mirrors and lights are clean, and clear the tailpipe of snow to prevent deadly exhaust fumes from entering the car.

·  Drive with your low-beam headlights illuminated.
·  When roads are icy, slow down and allow extra time to reach your destination.

·  Allow sufficient room for maintenance vehicles and plows, stay at least 15 car lengths (200 feet) behind them and, if you need to pass, go to the other vehicle’s left.

·  Watch for icy surfaces on bridges, even when the rest of the road seems to be in good condition.

·  If you get stuck in snow, straighten the wheel and accelerate slowly. Add sand or cat litter under the drive wheels to help avoid spinning the tires.

·  If your tires lose traction, continue to look and steer in the direction you want to go. If the drive wheels start to spin or slide while going uphill, ease off the accelerator slightly and then gently resume speed.

·  Look farther ahead in traffic. Actions by other drivers will alert you to problems and give you extra seconds to react.

·  When changing lanes, avoid cutting in front of trucks, which need more time and distance in which to stop than do passenger vehicles.

·  Don’t use cruise control on slippery roads.
·  Remember that four-wheel-drive helps you to get going quicker, but it won’t help you stop any faster.

·  Apply constant, firm pressure to the pedal on vehicles with anti-lock brakes.