Four Tips and Tricks for Winter Driving

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Safety Tips For The Winter

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Let’s face it… it’s not all sunshine and tan lines in Brookings this time of year. Dealing with harsh winters can be an unwanted stressful or uncomfortable situation. We here at Einspahr treat our Brookings community like family.

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We want you to be safe this winter season, so we gathered four tips and tricks to drive safely in the colder weather.

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1.) Have a Winter Preparedness Kit

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It’s always a good idea to have a winter preparedness kit for your vehicle in case the worst happens. Here are things we recommend to have in your vehicle during the winter season:

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• A basic first aid kit and tool kit

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• Non-perishable snacks

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• Jumper cables 

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• Water

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• A shovel in case snow is piled around your car

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• Kitty litter to help your tires get unstuck

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• An ice scraper to keep your windows clear

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• Matches or a lighter

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• Blankets or extra winter clothing 

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• Flashlight

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If you can’t fit every item in your vehicle, just make sure you have some of the items listed above. It will help you and your family in the long run.

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2.) Fill Your Gas Tank

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When temperatures drop below 32 degrees, any water that may be in your gas tank could possibly freeze, which leads to blockages in the fuel system. Your tank may also get rust build-up if it’s empty or almost empty.

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Keeping your fuel tank nearly full or above half will help prevent this. It is also safer to have a full tank in the case of an emergency. For example, if you get your vehicle stuck in the snow or if you had a car accident, you’ll need extra fuel to keep your vehicle warm/running while you are waiting for help to arrive. 

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3.) Buckle in You Kids Without the Winter Coats

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A bulky winter coat and a booster seat can be an unsafe combination. They should not be worn underneath a car seat harness, because it will leave the harness loose and ineffective when it comes to a car crash.

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We understand that you need to keep your kids bundled up to handle this colder weather, so these are safer options compared to the winter coats.

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For smaller children, we recommend putting a blanket over them for extra warmth. Just make sure that the blanket is fitted and approved by the car seat manufacturer for the specific booster seat.

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For bigger children, turn the coat around and put it on backward after harnessing them into the car seat. That way the back of the coat acts as a blanket resting on top of the seat.

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4.) Plan and Prevent

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You should always make sure your vehicle is maintained well enough for the hazardous weather. Doing things such as testing your car battery, checking your vehicle’s fluids and monitoring your tire tread could help you prevent unwanted vehicle problems from the winter.

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Adapting your driving habits during winter is also an important safety precaution you should take. 

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• Make sure you know what your brakes will do on bad traction by stomping on anti lock brakes and pumping on non-anti lock brakes. 

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• Allow plenty of time to reach your destination so you can drive slower on the icy and snowy roads. 

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• Allow plenty of room between vehicles around you. The slippery conditions means a longer brake distance for your vehicle and the others around you.

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Get Your Vehicle Winter Ready at Einspahr

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If you don’t want the hassle of getting your vehicle prepped for winter. Schedule your winter service with our skilled and knowledgeable service team! 

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Schedule Winter Service »

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