(Photo credit: Wikipedia)
As much as I hate to admit it, there’s no denying it. The latest dumping of snow in Eastern Ontario is a reminder: The snow is out there. Those of us who’ve been getting off lightly so far, can’t take that for granted either. You never know which morning you’re going to wake up to a winter wonderland or car-skating rink outside. And when it hits, those of us who like to procrastinate and pretend that we’re still on yearlong around the world trips in tropical destinations are going to pay the price. Don’t be a Heather. Make sure your car is road-ready with these quick tips:
1. Windshield Washer Fluid: Murphy’s law says you will run out, in the middle of a freak snowstorm on the highway. Don’t get mad at me. It’s Murphy’s fault. Beat him at his game by stocking up early and keeping an extra jug or two in the trunk.
2. Winter Tires: I know you think you can get by on your 4-season radials but is an icy road in the middle of winter really the place you want to test that theory? Change ’em. And do it soon. The moment that first snow starts to fall, the lineup to get it done will make you wish you’d done it today.
3. Emergency Kit: If you’re stranded – whether it’s due to storm or car malfunction – you’ll want to be able to help yourself as quickly as possible or keep well while you wait for help. Keep an emergency kit in the trunk with a warm blanket, jumper cables, small shovel, flashlight, batteries, road cones/flares. And keeping a bottle of water and a snack (protein bars or bag of nuts) in there is a great idea too.
4. See your mechanic: Why wait for something to go wrong? In the same way that you see your doctor regularly, you should consider scheduling visits with your mechanic ahead of big seasonal changes. He might find something early and save you the costly repairs down the road.
5. Have a roadside assistance plan: If ever there was a time when you don’t want to be without your PDA it’s when you’re stuck somewhere or having car trouble – but even that can fail you. Make sure you have the numbers for CAA, your brother-in-law or a handy friend stored both on the phone and on a non-electronic means (i.e. pen and paper) in your glove box just in case. That way when you flag someone down for help, they’ll be able to get you what you need quickly.
