Are you ready for winter? Here is what your Agent recommends
Posted by
Jeff Moses on Fri, Nov 25, 2011 @ 12:49 PM
Everybody knows that as soon as the first snow falls in Western New York, the traffic slows conciderably, and you see the number of accidents increase. So what does this mean to you? More hazards to manuver while driving. Avoid them and your insurance rate will stay low and save you money by not having those preventable fender benders on your record.
What can you do to get ready for winter? Simple. Just follow this checklist.
1. check your tires. Do you have enough tread on your tires or are they bald? Most people replace old tires with all season tires that they can use all year round. If your tires do need replacing, but still have a little tread left, maybe consider getting winter only tires. You can switch them out with the ones on your car, at low cost to you. Then just put those old ones in the garage till spring and switch them out again. its a good route to take especially if you have summer tires only that are still good.
2. Slow down. The wider your tires are, the more surface area there is, and the more likely you are to slide on that snow, water and ice. Hydroplaneing and loss of traction are how you end up sliding into the back of others cars and gaurd rails.
3. Prepare a winter kit for your car. This is probably the MOST important next to checking your tires. make sure you have an emergency blanket in your trunk in case you get stranded over night somewhere or get stuck in a snow storm. Non perishable foods like granola bars and easy open cans of fruit are good to have too. A plastic bottle of water and a small tool kit is nice. Screwdrivers, wrench, flashlight, duct tape. hey, ya' never know. Get together some pain killers, band aides and gause, just in case. Also, keep a road flare or battery powered strobe in your car to put behind your car incase of a break down. For the winter, I would keep a small bag of salt or sand in my trunk for two reasons. One, to make the car heavier for traction on snow and two, in case you need to put some under your tires when you get stuck. I think an obvious item would be a windshield scrapper but some forget. Last thing I recommend is a pen and paper to exchange info, in case of an accident. Get their id card from them and write down the COMPANY AND POLICY NUMBER, along with their name, address and phone number.
4. Check windshield washer fluid. Make sure you have fluid that is rated for sub zero temperatures. anti freeze windshield washer fluid will get you out of an ice build up but only if you have good windshield wipers! check those for tears or replace if worn down. Its not a bad idea to keep an extra gallon of fluid in your trunk because when you run out, is when you always wish you had some and fast.
And if you've done all of these things already....You could even consider waxing your car and getting undercoat protection. RUSTOP is a good protectant that coats the bottom of your car from salt damage and rust with a pretrolium jelly substance. Some places use a more viscous oil that drips heavily. Both are ok. Which is better? I'd go with the no drip rustop to prevent oil stains on your drive way.
So leave a little earlier before your commute and plan accordingly. Because you never know when the next heavy snow fall will get you stuck in traffic like last years Cheektowaga/depew thruway pile up. 24 hours in a car is no fun with out a blanket and food.
You will thank yourself and your insurance premium will show it, when you've been a good driver!
Be prepared. Scouts' moto.