Last week’s arctic blast eliminates any doubt – winter is here, and that means snow and ice on the roads. Perhaps you are a Nashville native and you could drive down a snowy road blindfolded, or maybe you are a recent transplant from down south who has never driven in the cold before. Either way, this guide can help make sure you are prepared if you are in a car accident.
- Keep your car well maintained. This means making sure your fluids are replaced regularly, ensuring your antifreeze is good to go and keeping a full tank of gas as often as you can.
- Have a good pair of jumper cables handy in your vehicle.
- Keep a flashlight in your car. This is good advice no matter the season.
- Know how to change a tire. Make sure you have a jack and a tire iron in your vehicle, and if you have never changed a tire before, ask someone who knows how or consult YouTube.
- It’s useless knowing how to change a flat tire if you aren’t carrying a spare. If you have room for a full size spare tire, it can save you a trip to the tire shop.
- Carry a fire extinguisher in your car. While a car fire might not be the first thing on your mind as a possible winter problem, it never hurts to be prepared.
- Especially when the winds and snow pick up, it is important to have some way of signaling other drivers on the road. While the flashlight above could serve this purpose, something more powerful, such as road flares, make much better emergency signals.
- Keep adequate food, water and other supplies in your vehicle.
- Bundle up! Keep several blankets in your vehicle as well as extra warm clothing.
- Buy a rescue tool and keep it within reach inside your car. You want a rescue tool that has both a seat belt cutter and a glass breaker. This will help you escape the car in the event of an accident.
- Don’t forget the first aid kit!
Psalm 55:22, “Cast your cares on the LORD and he will sustain you; he will never let the righteous be shaken.”