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As the holidays draw closer, the odds of having snow on the ground during travel increases a great deal. Snow and ice are a normal part of winter and a headache for those that are not prepared to travel in it. If you are prepared, you can navigate the dangers of bad weather rather seamlessly. The key is to cover all your bases and prepare for the worst.
Here are some tips for preparing for snow travel this holiday season:
Prepare your vehicle
Having a vehicle that is prepared for the nasty weather you might run into is the most important aspect of holiday winter weather travel. Snow is not impossible to travel in if you have a vehicle that was properly prepared.
Right out of the gate you want to take your car to the shop and have all the basics checked. Make sure the car has been winterized and all the fluids are topped off. Make sure all of your wires and hoses are in good repair and go ahead and throw a few of these into the trunk. A simple hose can be quickly repaired on the go if you have a leak.
Next, you will want to make sure you have snow chains and that your tires have excellent tread. Bad tires and snow are a recipe for disaster. Check the battery and make sure it is in excellent shape.
Prepare yourself
Now that your car is in good repair, you need to make sure you take some steps to ensure you are okay on the trip. Add an emergency kit to your luggage with plenty of basic first aid items. Also put together a fire kit that includes matches, lighters and various things that are easily lit in an emergency. (not gasoline or highly flammable liquids but tinder type items)
Next make sure you have some extra food, water and blankets. These items would be a lifesaving measure were you to break down in the middle of nowhere in a snow drift. The last thing you want is to be caught without the basic essentials.
Driving in snow for holiday travel also demands that you bring along a basic kit to escape if you get stuck. This includes kitty litter for traction, a good solid shovel or two and a tow rope.
Finally, make sure you have a rescue plan in place. If you break down at any part of your trip, a plan should be in place to handle it. Make sure you share your trip route with several people and that someone is to be contacted by a certain time. This way you can be found if you have issues with the snow or car trouble. Pack a cell phone with an extra fully charged battery and only use it for emergencies. Take along other phones for chit chat if you must have one.
Do you live in snow or icy conditions? Can you add additional tips to prepare those who travel in inclement weather like snow?
These are great tips –especially for us here in the northeast NY area–we’ve gotten some really bad weather and driving is no fun at all. We actually added tile carpet squares to each of our cars in case we get stuck in the snow and need traction.
We just had our first real snow today… I hope it does not stick around. I love a white Christmas, but could use a few more weeks of dry roads.
I bought a mini van this year and am thinking of getting snow tires for it.
I live in Atlanta where it snows about once a year. Best advice for our area is NOT to drive in bad weather unless you have to.
Listen to the forecasts and using your intuition are great ways to stay safe on the roads.
What great tips! Preparing your vehicle is one that I need to take note of more often!
We’re getting our first really cold day today and I know I need a new battery. Hope it starts!
we live in ct so we’ve already had some icy and snowy conditions. my husband has already put our ‘winter kit’ in the van!
Now that I am semi retired I don’t worry as much about driving in the snow–as my clients and family and friends will tell you–I stay home until the roads are cleared!! But I remember when and this is very good advise.
We really need snowchains! We actually just had about 4″ of snow drop yesterday/today which is about a month early for us. It wasn’t alot, but it came much earlier than we expected. Need to get our car kits together and ready to go!
I completely agree. When traveling in the snow, you definitely need to be prepared.
I live in the south but I drive up north for the holidays and I definitely encountered bad roads last year. It was scary!
This is and awesome post and things everyone should know before traveling on a trip in the vehicle. Thanks for sharing.