Is Your Car Ready for Holiday Travel? 5 Important Safety Tips

With the year-end holidays fast approaching, roads and highways will be busy just as the winter weather is settling in. Given the season's safety hazards, now is the best time to review some winter road trip essentials.

To that end, let's look at five safe driving and car care practices that could quite literally help save your life.

Tip #1: Winterize your vehicle

Slippery roads and dark skies can make for treacherous driving, and your risks will only grow if your car isn't properly prepared. Review this article on winterizing your vehicle as you get ready to check these tasks off your winter road trip to-do list:

Switch to winter tires

Winter tires have deeper grooves, engineered tread patterns, and unique rubber compositions that help them maintain better grip and traction. They perform far better on wet, snowy, and icy roads than all-season tires. Make the swap early in the season.

Test battery performance

Cold weather increases your battery's internal resistance, forcing it to work harder to deliver power. If your battery is aging or underperforming, it might not last the winter — and that could leave you stranded in the cold with a car that won't start.

You can test battery function with a multimeter, or have a technician do it for you. Replace your battery if the tests show any signs of depletion.

Get a tune-up

A professional tune-up will quickly identify and correct problems with your battery and other components like your brakes, spark plugs, and belts and hoses. You'll also enjoy peace of mind knowing your car's been inspected and cleared for winter driving by an expert.

Replace your wiper blades

Wiper blades have a much shorter lifespan than you may realize. Most people replace theirs only about once every three years, even though the pros say you should get new ones every 6–12 months or as soon as you notice a performance loss.

New blades deliver a clean wipe that will help you maintain better front and rear visibility. Consider PEAK's Snow Beast, Silicone Platinum, and Max Vision blades: they all have proprietary designs and unique performance characteristics that make them excellent options for winter.

Need some help making the change? This resource explains how to select, remove, and replace winter blades in complete detail. 

Upgrade your headlights

The sun goes down early in winter, making for months of dark driving. A headlight upgrade will brighten your outlook on the road, boosting illumination and nighttime visibility.

PEAK's Power Vision Xenon, Gold, and Silver headlights all make great choices. Before you switch out your bulbs, review these instructions on how to change your headlights.

Fill your windshield wash reservoir

Cars kick up a lot of slush, salt, and road debris as they drive in winter, and a lot of that grime will end up on your windshield. PEAK De-Icer with Anti-Frost windshield wash is the perfect antidote. Fill your reservoir and stash an extra jug or two in your trunk.

Check your children's car seats

Parents bundle up their kids in winter. If you have little ones, you might need to adjust their car seats to make sure the harness fits correctly over heavier winter clothes. The harness should have a snug fit that isn't too tight. Take a minute to give yours an extra check while your child is wearing their winter coat.

Tip #2: Brush up on winter driving basics

Even a short winter road trip can quickly go south if you don't follow seasonal safety tips. To that end, remember these essentials:

Avoid risky driving behaviors

Always drive sober. Put your phone down, keep your seat belt fastened, and eliminate unnecessary distractions while you're behind the wheel — including food and drink, if you can help it.

You should follow these tips at all times, and especially in winter.

Slow down

If you're driving in bad weather, reduce your speed — even if that means going below the posted speed limit. Always adjust your speed to match road conditions and aim to maintain a smooth, steady pace.

Increase following distance

Along with driving slowly, you should also give other drivers — and yourself — more space. By increasing your following distance, you'll have more time to react to changing traffic conditions and more room to stop on a slippery road.

The American Automobile Association (AAA) recommends a following distance of 5–6 seconds in winter. Here's how to achieve it:

• Look ahead for a high-visibility landmark.
   
• Watch for the car directly ahead of you to reach that landmark.
   
• Increase your following distance until you reach the same landmark 5–6 seconds after the car ahead of you.

Brake the right way

Slamming on your brakes in the ice or snow could send you skidding, which can easily result in an accident. If your car has an anti-lock braking system (ABS), you should instead apply firm and even but not full pressure.

If you don't have an ABS, slow down gradually by pumping your brakes: engage then release them, then repeat until you come to a complete stop.

By pairing proper braking with slow, steady speeds and safe following distances, you can dramatically reduce your chances of getting in an accident. 

Know what to do if you skid

Given how slippery winter can be, you might end up slipping and skidding despite your best efforts. If that happens, stay calm and follow these steps:

• Take your foot off the gas.
   
• Steer in the direction of the skid if you still have control of the vehicle.
   
• If you lose control of the car, return the steering wheel to the straight position.
   
• Avoid hard braking. Instead, press very gently on your brake pedal. If no other vehicles
  are around, allow your car to come to a stop on its own instead of using the brakes.

For more seasonal safety tips, review this winter driving primer.

Tip #3: Plan ahead

Planning ahead is especially important in advance of a winter road trip. Here are three things you should do before any longer journey:

Fuel or charge up

Make sure your gas tank is full, or that your EV battery is fully charged, before you leave. This is particularly important if you're headed into unfamiliar territory or rural locations where gas stations and charging ports might not be readily available. 

Build a winter safety kit for your car

You'll need a specially stocked safety kit for your car in winter. Essential items include:

• A broom, shovel, and heavy-duty ice scraper
• Sand or kitty litter for regaining traction if you get stuck on ice or snow
• Multiple brightly colored cloths
• Reflective triangles or flares
• Jumper cables
• Flashlight and extra batteries
• Blankets, woolen hats, and mittens for every passenger
• Spare mobile phone charger
• Drinking water, non-perishable food, and a can opener
• Extra supplies of essential medications

Research your route

Plan your route in advance and take note of essential services along the way, such as restaurants, rest stops, gas stations, and EV charging facilities. When travel day arrives, check road conditions along the entirety of your route. If things are looking dicey, consider postponing your trip if possible.

Tip #4: Watch for hills

Hills can create dangerous situations in winter if you don't navigate them correctly. Here's what the AAA recommends:

• Go easy on the gas. Instead of hammering your accelerator to speed up a hill, it's safer to build up speed before you reach the hill and let your vehicle's momentum carry you into the upward slope. Then, supplement with gentle, even pressure on your gas pedal.
   
• Reduce your speed early. Hard braking is something you should always try to avoid in winter, but it can be downright deadly if you're coming down a hill and you end up in a skid. Here's the wise move: allow your car to slow down on its own as you crest the hilltop, then let it glide down the other side.
   
• Avoid stopping or parking on a hill. Snow and ice can make it difficult to get the traction you need to climb a hill. Unless you have no other choice, do not park or come to a complete stop when you're heading uphill.

Tip #4: Know what to do in an emergency

Even if you fully prepare your car and follow every seasonal safety tip, it's still possible that you could end up in an emergency during your winter road trip. The AAA recommends these best practices if you end up stranded at the side of the road:

• Do not leave your vehicle if you can help it. In a pinch, it can provide emergency shelter from the elements.
   
• If you must leave your vehicle, wait for clear weather. Heavy precipitation makes you less visible to other drivers, and it's easy to become disoriented or lost in a storm.
   
• Use the universal distress signal: take the bright cloth from your roadside emergency kit and affix it to your vehicle's antenna or hang it from a rolled-up window.
   
• Unclog your exhaust pipe. If your exhaust pipe is stuffed with mud, ice, or snow, carbon monoxide can seep into your vehicle when you run it. This can easily create a deadly situation.
   
• Save energy: don't exert yourself unnecessarily and run your vehicle as sparingly as possible if you need to keep it warm.

If you become stranded, call for roadside assistance immediately. If you can't, try to flag down a passing motorist for help.

Prep your car for winter driving with high-performing PEAK products

PEAK Auto is here to provide resources, products, and accessories to help make your winter road trip safe as well as fun. Our ultimate road trip checklist is chock full of insightful tips and information to review before your journey, and we're also proud to offer some of the best-performing and top-selling automotive products on the market.

Check out our:

• Antifreeze and coolant
• Exterior and interior lighting products
• Windshield wash
• Wiper blades

They make great additions to any winter road trip, and they'll help keep you safe and comfortable on the roads until spring returns.