Prepare your vehicle of weather road conditions
As anyone who has lived in the area for a year or more knows well, the winter weather in Belleville, IL can get pretty harsh, snowy, and cold. This can take its toll on your vehicle if you don’t prepare for it in advance. In addition, winter road conditions present their own challenges. However, you can minimize your driving risk by getting your car, truck, or SUV ready for those tricky road conditions in advance.
Ways to get ready for fall and winter weather
- Have your car professionally “winterized.” One of the best things you can do for your car’s winter performance is to have the oil changed, the fluid levels checked and the radiator flushed and filled with new antifreeze. It’s also a good idea to have the service technician check your battery and your heating system to make sure that will be reliable through the winter.
- Check your tires. Your tires are important to maintaining good traction in the winter. If yours are showing signs of wear, fall is a good time to replace them. In addition, make sure your tires are properly inflated. Even a couple of pounds of pressure can make a big difference in your vehicle’s performance.
- Pack an emergency kit. Getting stranded in your car in sub-zero temperatures can quickly escalate from an inconvenience to a life-threatening situation. Make sure you are prepared for such an emergency by stowing a few essential items in your trunk. These include a blanket, extra gloves, flares, a few high-energy snacks, bottled water, and a flashlight with extra batteries (kept outside of the device). If a car phone charger isn’t part of your regular car equipment, it’s a good idea to include one in your emergency bag.
- Change your windshield wipers. These small, inexpensive maintenance items can make a big difference in your visibility during the winter months when snow and sleet start hitting your windows.
Staying safe on Belleville’s challenging winter roads doesn’t have to be an impossible task. Prepare for winter driving by having your vehicle winterized in the fall, making sure your tires have plenty of treads and are properly inflated, and change out your windshield wipers.
