Bachman Subaru Blog

When winter weather comes, it’s helpful to take all the precautions you can to stay safe on the road. Luckily there’s plenty you can do to increase your safety, starting with choosing a vehicle that can handle the harsh weather in your area. Subaru has a line of vehicles that are excellent in winter conditions with all-wheel drive and safety features that can assist drivers. Regardless of what you drive, we want to provide you with a few simple tips to keep you safe this winter.

Winter Driving Tips

Louisville has mild winters, so you can expect cold temperatures and snowfall. As a driver, it’s good to be aware of the weather conditions and know how to handle your vehicle when driving in the snow. Read on to discover some tips for driving in the snow and winter weather.

Stay Home During Dangerous Weather

When possible, try to refrain from driving during dangerous winter weather. You may try to avoid driving in the snow to lessen your risk of being in an accident and plan your trips so you can be on the road before or after the snow. You can watch the weather reports to learn about road conditions and when to expect snow or ice.

Clear Snow and Ice From Your Car

Before driving anywhere in the winter, clear the snow and ice off of your vehicle. It’s useful to keep an ice scraper and snow brush tool in your car so that it’s easily accessible and available to you when you’re away from home. Ice can be more difficult to remove from your windows, so you can get a de-icer spray, which melts ice and snow and can prevent frost.

Watch for Wildlife

It’s common for deer and other wildlife to cross in front of traffic, and while you should watch for wildlife anytime you’re on the road, it’s important to be alert when driving in the winter. Stopping for wildlife can be more difficult when the road is icy or wet with snow. If you’re aware of your surroundings, you can detect deer and other creatures and slow down if they’re near the road.

Clean Your Headlights and Tail Lights

Check your headlights and taillights often to ensure they’re clean and clear. This may improve your field of visibility while driving because your lights can shine bright and aren’t blocked by snow or dirt. Clean tail lights help other drivers see you on the road and take note of your signals. If you need to replace your headlights or tail lights, you can stop in at our dealership and order genuine Subaru parts.

Check Your Tires

Another way to stay safe in the winter is to check your tire pressure and tread. Low tire pressure can affect how your vehicle drives, including braking. The tread on your tires provides traction between your vehicle and the road and helps you navigate over snow and ice. You can conduct a penny test to determine if you still have good tread on your tires or not.

To perform this test, place a penny between the tread with Lincoln’s head pointed toward the tire. If the top of his head is covered, your tires are still good. If you can see his entire head, it’s time to replace them. At our service center, we can check, rotate, and replace your tires for winter driving. You might also consider adding chains to improve the grip of the tires in snow and ice.

Drive Slowly

Be cautious when driving in winter weather by driving slower than normal. This can improve your handling of the vehicle and provide you with more time to react to your surroundings. If you slide on snow, slush, or ice, driving slowly enables you to come to a stop or maneuver away from other vehicles.

Fill Up Your Gas Tank

It’s good to have a full gas tank whenever you drive in the winter. If you have car trouble and need to wait on the side of the road for help, you can still run your engine and stay warm. You may also experience traffic delays more often in the winter, and it may take longer to get from one gas station to the next.

Stay Alert

Being an alert driver can help you be safe in winter weather. Try to limit your distractions while driving in the snow so you can focus on the road and traffic. The winter also has road conditions such as black ice that can be hard to detect if you’re not on high alert.

Get Equipment for Winter Driving

Ensure you have all the equipment you may need for winter driving before you expect harsh conditions. For example, you may need to buy a snow brush, snow chains, or jumper cables. It can also be helpful to put a snow shovel in your car or sand in case you get stuck somewhere.

Prepare Your Winter Emergency Kit

Consider preparing a winter emergency kit in case you get stuck or have other car troubles during the winter. In your kit, you can include items to keep you warm, such as hand warmers, tea candles, matches, and a blanket. Flashlights, traffic cones, and flares are useful if you’re on the side of the road. You might also need a tow rope in case you get stuck. Other items you can consider putting in your winter emergency kit include:

• Battery booster cables.
• Gloves.
• Ice scraper and snow brush.
• First-aid kit.
• Tire sealant.
• Water.
• Long-lasting food.
• Phone charger.

Give yourself peace of mind by preparing for driving in the winter. If you feel unsafe driving in the winter weather, try to avoid traveling or ask friends or family to drive. A vehicle with all-wheel drive or that can handle icy conditions will make a difference in your comfort while driving. If you’re in the market for a vehicle that handles the snow well, stop into our dealership in Louisville and our team will help you find the perfect Subaru.