Whether you’re hitting the road to visit relatives or expecting people from out of town, the best way to stop needless accidents during winter travel is by keeping your car in safe driving condition. There are numerous factors that make holiday driving more hazardous than usual, but if your car is well maintained you will be ready for whatever the holidays bring. The technicians at Christian Brothers Automotive are here to make sure your holiday season goes according to plan by sharing this useful winter car safety advice.

CHECK YOUR BATTERY’S STRENGTH

With a dead battery, you shouldn’t expect to drive anywhere soon. You often see stranded drivers waiting on the side of the road because their battery died. Cold weather reduces your battery’s capacity and renders any already weak batteries totally useless. If you stop by our auto repair shop, you can cheaply test your battery and get it replaced on your own terms. Otherwise, you may find yourself stranded on the road, awaiting an expensive tow.

ARE YOUR TIRES IN GOOD CONDITION?

One of the most important parts of driving safely in the winter is having good traction on the road. To do this, you’ll need to keep your tires in tip-top shape for handling icy, slushy, or wet conditions. Make sure your tires have at least 1/8 inch of tread and are inflated to the correct tire pressure.

When the temperature drops, the air condenses in your tires, making them slightly flat. Consequently you may have to add more air over time during the colder months. Proper tire pressure combined with good tire tread will prevent your vehicle from sliding all over the road in inclement weather.

CHECK YOUR BRAKES’ RESPONSIVENESS

There’s no more important safety feature on your vehicle than the brakes. Even if your brakes work fine on dry roads, it doesn’t mean they necessarily will on wet roads as well. Squeaky or grinding noises while braking are huge indicators that your brakes need to be inspected as soon as possible. In addition, if you notice it’s taking you longer to stop or you need added pressure when braking, you should stop by our local Jackson auto shop immediately.

Prepare a Winter Safety Kit

The best way to be prepared is to have a winter safety kit in your vehicle just in case anything happens. This kit can include items such as an ice scraper, snow shovel, sand or salt, jumper cables, blanket, flashlight, flares, first-aid kit, tire pump and cell phone charger.

Fill Your Gas Tank

Make sure that you have at least half a tank of gas at all times. If you do end up getting stuck or stranded, this will ensure that you have a source of heat to keep you warm while you wait for the tow truck.

Drive Slowly and Carefully

When it comes to driving on snow or ice, don’t forget to drive slowly and cautiously. Remember that speed limits are meant for dry roads, so slow down and increase your following distance. Also, do not use cruise control in snowy or icy conditions because you want to have as much control as possible.

At Christian Brothers Automotive, your safety is our priority this holiday season. With more hazards on the road, we can’t stress enough how essential it is for you to have a safe vehicle to be able to handle the conditions.

Call us today at Christian Brothers Automotive and see the nice difference!