I’m no meteorologist but I am feeling a great snow season coming our way this year. Obviously last year could have been better but this year is going to be amazing! The Wasatch mountain range is expecting 8-14″ of snow today, just a week before all the resorts start to open for snowboarders. Little Cottonwood Canyon went to chains/4wd this morning and I saw a few accidents on I-80 just on my commute to work. As always people the best way to enjoy this snow season is to be prepared. Here are a few tips that can keep you safe while driving this winter.
#1 Snow tires. Snow tires aren’t cheap but they can make all the difference in the world for those of you without four-wheel drive or all-wheel drive. The best snow tires in the world are Bridgestone Blizzaks. They are maybe $10-20 more than other brands but they are 10 times more superior. If you can’t afford snow tires make sure you pick up a good set of chains – and LEARN how to use them 🙂 Many mountains won’t even let you up without 4WD or chains.
#2 Brush the snow off your windows and hood and roof before you start to drive. Most people think the wipers will do the job but snow and ice is very heavy and you don’t want to find out that you can’t see as you are driving down the highway. Also, make sure you brush off your hood because the snow will take flight and hit your windshield as you pick up speed. Finally, it’s courteous to brush off your roof as well so you don’t blind the person behind you with snow fall.
#3 Maintain your car. Everyone knows how sucky it is to break down on the side of the road. But you definitely don’t want to break down when temperatures are dangerously high or low. Accidents can always happen, but if you maintain tire pressure, oil, and ANTIFREEZE levels as well as keep your windshield wiper reservoir filled with de-icer, and your gas tank with HEET, you should be good to go, and always have enough gas in your car.
#4 Have an emergency kit in your car. Many people keep these in their trunk but I would only recommend that if you can get access to your trunk from the inside of your car. Imagine sliding off a highway into a snowbank where no one can see you and you can’t get out of your car. But you know you have blankets and food and water in your trunk. What a bummer. In this kit you should have the following: flashlight, batteries, blanket, snacks, water, gloves, boots, first-aid kit, flares, and jumper cables.
#5 Use common sense. You have that awful feeling in your gut for a reason. That’s your body telling your head that it is an idiot. Your head makes mistakes all the time – just go back and look at your junior high yearbook picture.
