As Billie Holiday says “It’s easy to blame the weather” but the majority of fender benders, crashes and worse accidents on the road are a result of drivers themselves. We live in Canada, which means as much as we dread the cold – snow and black ice are inevitable. You change up your wardrobe: switch flip flops for Uggs, light sweaters for down-filled parkas and may even bust out the long johns, so why do so many of us forget to prepare our largest accessory – our ride?

We at urbanebloc like to keep you safe so we’ve prepared a simple guide to preparing your car and you for winter weather.

• Winterize your wheels: Like I said earlier, you wouldn’t wear flip flops in the snow and your Tory Burch flats won’t protect you from the slush, so why would you think summer tires or “all-seasons” will do the trick? If you live where the roads get some serious snow, use snow tires.
• I can see clearly now, my blades are on… Make sure your windshield wiper blades are working or replace them if they’re not. Keep your windows snow/ice free (tip: keep mittens and a snowbrush in your car for easy cleaning) and make sure your windshield washer system is full of anti-icing fluid. Also, don’t forget to turn your defrosters on when your windows start to fog.
• Don’t forget your winter driving kit: I’ve already mentioned mittens and a snowbrush, but there are a few other things that could prove useful when it comes to winter driving. Transport Canada suggests items like: an extra jug of anti-freeze, sand (or kitty litter) for traction, a first aid kit, blanket, flares, booster cables, matches, and a flashlight. In addition, I suggest a lot of snacks. Delicious ones, just in case.
• Learn how to deal with the brake up: Get to know your brakes and how your car reacts to emergency stops. Your car moves differently in the snow and it’ll do you some good to learn how to control it. Leave enough distance before full stops and try to avoid following too closely. Nobody likes a tailgater.

The best tip may be to stay at home… or at least wait until the snowplows do their thing and conditions subside. But since you’re probably a go-getter, keep these tips in mind as you journey out along the snowy roads. If not, I can probably give you a ridiculously long list of things to do after you declare a “snow day”. I’ll bank that for an entirely different post.

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