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It might be too early to mention it, but it is less than 100 days until Christmas. If you’ve been to any big stores like Costco in the last few weeks, you’ll notice a flurry of festive decorations creeping onto the shelves.

Winter is almost upon us, and with winter comes the crowds of people roaming the streets for presents. With there being more people in the stores, it makes sense that the roads are becoming more jammed with people. Of course, with more vehicles of all sizes on the road, there is more risk of an accident occurring. So, unless you want to be contacting a truck accident lawyer or spending your winter in hospital, you’ll need to think about some of the things you can do to make your driving experience safer this winter.

The Engine

At any time of year, before you decide to embark on any long journeys you need to check the safety of your vehicle and ensure that the engine is running up to scratch. One of the ways to do this is to check your oil levels. It is simple to do and you just need to take the dip stick and where your oil level is. Unless it is below the minimum line, you’re good to go. The second thing is to always ensure that you have a sufficient amount of antifreeze in the engine to prevent it icing up in low temperatures.

Bring Emergency Supplies

If you must travel in winter, make sure to keep some essential supplies in the car with you at all times. This will ensure that you don’t become stuck out in the snow without a way to get out. Some things you could include are:

•         Food
•         Water
•         Blankets
•         Torch
•         Snow Shovel
•         Phone Charger
•         Empty Fuel Can
•         First Aid Kit
•         Rope
•         Snow Trax

Keeping these items with you means that if you ever do find yourself snowed in or lost in dark conditions, you have the means to call for help and stay comfortable as you wait for assistance.

Snow and Ice

Ideally driving in snowy or icy conditions should be avoided at all costs. However, if you absolutely must go out in these conditions, makes sure you take it easy on the petals as you drive. Never slam your breaks when driving on ice, because that is a sure-fire way to get yourself slipping off the road and causing an accident. Low visibility from snowfall is also a hazardous affair, so make sure you leave plenty of room in front of you for the car ahead and also drive at a steady pace to avoid slipping.

Watch out for Aquaplaning

If you don’t know what aquaplaning is; it is when water becomes trapped between your tyres and the road below. In the winter storms are much more frequent and roads can be incredibly wet. If you do feel yourself becoming unsteady as you drive, hold the steering wheel straight, slow down very slowly until it is safe to pull over, and don’t slam on your brakes.