With those hot summer days quickly approaching learn more to keep your skin safe and your car cool!
Before you venture out into the snow and ice this winter, be sure that you have winter tires to increase your safety on the road.
Purchase the Jack and Jill of All Tires to help you change your winter tires today!
Slow and steady really wins the race! When there’s lots of snow and ice on the ground, driving in slower speeds will help your tires gain more traction and control while on the road.
The more space you keep between you and the vehicle in front, the more time you have to stop or react to sudden action on the road.
Don’t stop on snow or ice if you can avoid it. It’s difficult to regain inertia when your tires have stopped moving, so we suggest keeping a steady pace when making a turn or approaching a light (U.S. News & World Report).
Check weather updates from your local news station OR use a weather app on your phone to get the latest conditions of where you are and where you’re going.
Check out our previous blog post to learn about this seasons’ weather predictions across Canada and U.S.
Winter aka ‘washer fluid season’ calls for lots of dirt, salt and debris on the road that will impact your visibility while driving. It’s always important to be topped up, but especially during the winter months. Keeping extra washer fluid in your car is a great way to stay safe on the road.
You can’t plan for an accident – so it’s important to be prepared for when one happens. Keeping a compact emergency kit in your vehicle will get you through the more common dead batteries to more serious roadside incidences. The Get Jacked Safety Kit comes with the tools you need to get yourself out of trouble and items to keep you comfortable until help arrives.
Aside from the obvious jumper cables, first aid kit, washer fluid, snow brush and ice scraper, there are a few more essentials that every motorist should have in their car during winter.
Not only does this cover keep the snow off your windshield, it also saves you from scraping the frost and ice. This accessory will ultimately save you time in the morning for an easier and faster getaway!
So your windshield is winter-proofed but your door is iced shut…now what?
A can of de-icer can go a long way. Without damaging your cars’ paint, a quick spray will have the frost and ice instantly melted, giving your arms a well deserved break from scraping.
Now that you’ve made your way into your car, there’s a few more accessories to keep you warm and safe.
Electrical or not, a blanket is a great piece to have on hand for any drive.
There’s nothing worse than your car suddenly shutting down on the side of the road while it’s below zero. Lighting a large unscented candle will warm up your vehicles’ cabin area long enough to keep you comfortable until help arrives.
You’re stuck, now what?
Not an obvious winter accessory but when you’re stuck in snow or on ice, sprinkle some under your tires. Cat litter will help you gain traction so you can get back on the road.
Consider using these accessories to keep yourself prepared and safe this winter!
Here are 3 ways to keep the exterior and interior of your car clean this winter:
Winter weather conditions take a toll on the exterior of your car. Just like when you wear gloves, a hat, and coats to endure the snow and cold, your car also deserves some added protection.
Your vehicle’s paint protects the metal from outside elements like ice, salt and debris. Using paint protector will keep the paint in shape and ensure your vehicle is not exposed to corrosive properties (washmenow.ca).
Now is the perfect time to add a layer of protection to your car before the snow and salt start hitting the road. You can either purchase a paint protector and apply it yourself or take your car to a detail shop.
One element of winter driving that causes the most exterior damage to your vehicle is road salt. Salt on the road does have benefits for safer driving, however it can cause some damage to your exterior over time.
In-N-Out-Car-Wash explains that “Salt can get into all the cracks and crevasses of your car, waiting for the spring when the weather warms up and it actively starts to produce rust and corrosion.”
Washing your car throughout the winter season is a great way to keep the bottom and sides of your car clean and prevent rust or deterioration.
There are a few options to choose from when washing your car this winter:
Salt, snow, mud and dirt not only make a mess of your exterior but also collect inside. When getting into a vehicle, most of us are focused on getting away from the cold that we don’t pay attention to the mess we bring in.
If you haven’t done so already, look into purchasing rubber floor mats for your car. Even though most cars have a rubber base, a mat will make cleaning out dirt and salt much easier and allow you to keep it clean more often.
Tip: To clean the mats themselves, use a rim and tire cleaner to get rid of the stains the salt leaves behind.
When it comes to the winter season, it’s important to take extra precautions when driving. The weather conditions and cold temperatures have a drastic effect on the function of your regular car tires. So, it’s important to consider changing to winter tires once the temperature starts to drop even if you don’t see the snow!
Many parts of Canada and the United States experience extreme winter conditions that make driving very difficult and hazardous. Although all-season tires can somewhat navigate through snow and ice, they may not fully perform well in extreme cases; making winter tires a necessity on the road.
Studies show that at 7° C (44° F), the rubber on all-season tires will stiffen up and begin to have less traction on the road.
Enoch Omololu states that “the main difference between winter and all-season tires is in the rubber compound used to make them. Winter tires are made of softer rubber that remains flexible when temperatures drop and maintain a grip on the road. In addition, winter tires have deeper threads that allow for a bigger bite and traction on snow and ice.”
In Canada there are only two provinces that have legal regulations for winter tires:
Throughout the United States there are no regulations that legally require you to have winter tires. However, it’s recommended that people driving within the Snow Belt, an area subject to low temperatures and heavy snowfalls, should consider changing to winter tires.
Of course it’s simple to make an appointment at your local mechanic to get your winter tires changed. But why go through the inconvenience of taking time off work and waiting around because of the inevitable delays, just to do it all again in 5 months time? With the Jack and Jill of All Tires you can change your tires on your own schedule.
The average cost of a tire change is $60 CAD, and that’s just for one car for one season! The minimum cost of having your tires changed for you would be around $120 CAD, and at a retail price of $220 CAD, the Jack and Jill of All Tires will pay for itself within two years. Now imagine the time and money you’ll save if you have more than one car to maintain!
In preparation for the winter season, it’s important to do some research about what the upcoming weather predictions will be. The Old Farmer’s Almanac; more specifically the long range forecast is the perfect source! The forecast accuracy is about 80 % due to the gathering and study of overall weather patterns.
The long range forecast can predict weather patterns and temperatures for up to two months, so it’s a perfect source to consider when thinking about changing your tires.
The Farmer’s Almanac bases its forecasts on three scientific disciplines:
In making accurate predictions, the information is gathered amongst different regions throughout the United States and Canadian Provinces.
Northwest Territories and Yukon
For further information about daily, monthly and yearly weather predictions in your region, you can head over to the Almanac website and discover more about general weather and temperature patterns.
We know by now that texting or talking on the phone is the most dangerous habit to have while driving. Our attention is focused on our device and not on the road, and is a major cause of distraction and accidents. Different provinces and states have their own legal ways of controlling the use of devices while driving.
For the safety of yourself and others on the road, be sure to put your phone away or pull over to send a text or take an important phone call.
With all of these quick drive-thru options, it’s hard to resist grabbing your morning coffee with a quick breakfast, or getting an easy lunch on the go. However, eating while driving is a habit that is just as dangerous as being on the phone.
Your mind is attempting to focus on the road while also eating, drinking and trying not to make a mess. It’s best as the driver to finish your food before heading back on the road or wait until you reach your destination.
Your vehicle is an easy place to socialise with your family or friends. Whether it’s engaging in conversation, playing a movie for those in the back or trying to talk with everyone; it can all be too distracting.
Again your mind is focusing on the people, the conversations and the other things around you. Your attention may draw towards what’s happening inside the car rather than outside of it.
As a driver, you hold a responsibility to keep your passengers safe, so attempting to entertain them while also focusing on the road is a bad habit.
Who wouldn’t want their best friend riding shot-gun? Having your pet beside you may seem like a good idea, however trying to drive while also taking care of your pet that needs attention is dangerous for not only you but the dog as well. A dog on your lap limits your ability to manoeuvre the car, especially during a collision. Even in the passenger’s seat, your dog could be severely injured by an airbag.
Results from a AAA NEWSROOM SURVEY included this statistic:
An unrestrained 10-pound dog in a crash at only 30 mph (48 Kph) will exert roughly 300 pounds of pressure, while an unrestrained 80-pound dog in a crash at only 30 mph will exert approximately 2,400 pounds of pressure.
The safest place to keep your dog is in the backseat secured by a seatbelt seatbelt or in a crate!
Of course we all love to belt out to our favourite tunes! And if you don’t turn into a professional karaoke singer when you drive, are you even driving? But this little habit can have you singing and dancing in your seat and cause you to lose focus on the road.
We aren’t saying to never play your music, but make sure to keep the volume at a level where you can pay attention to the road and your surroundings; more importantly so you can hear other drivers and first responders.
Want to learn more about safety tips on the road? Check out our other blog posts here for more information about tire safety and travel tips!
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