By Jim Hill
Winter weather will soon be upon us. It’s time to prepare your car for winter driving. Here a few tips from AARP.
Make sure your tires are inflated to the proper pressure. Check the treads too. Worn tires can’t grip the road.
Test your battery. Most auto parts stores will do a battery check for free.
Have enough windshield washer fluid.
Test your wiper blades. If your wiper blades are smearing, not clearing, it’s time to replace them. Buy some new blades at an auto parts store, and they will install them for free.
AARP also recommends you carry these items in your car:
- A fully charged cell phone.
- A shovel.
- An ice scraper and broom.
- A bag of sand or kitty litter. If you’re stuck in snow, spreading this under your tires may give them enough
- traction to get your car unstuck.
- A plastic orange safety triangle.
- Jumper cables.
- Flares.
- A flashlight with extra batteries.
- Work gloves.
- A blanket or extra sweatshirt or jacket.
- Water and energy bars.
- A first aid kit.
The most important tip of all, though, is when in doubt, don’t go out. Watch the weather forecasts, and if they’re saying don’t drive unless you have to, stay home.
Chuckle Time (from Bev Frier): A blond woman (I used to be blond) was stopped for speeding. When the officer asked her why she was speeding, she said “I was nearly empty and hoped to get to the gas station before I ran out”.
