Cold Weather Driving Checklist

So the summer is all but over and we are now heading into the autumn months. It won’t be long until winter is with us again and drivers all over the country are having to deal with colder weather, which can create poor road conditions.

While we all know that we need to be careful when driving on icy or snow-covered roads, there are still some essentials that you should have in your car at all times if you are going to be braving the old. This handy list should ensure that you have everything that you need during the winter.

Deicer

This should be right at the top of your list when it comes to equipment you should have to counter the cold weather. Deicer allows you to clear your windows of ice without having to resort to hot water. This is much safer for the windows, as glass as liable to crack if exposed to sudden changes in temperatures. Make sure you pack a scraper as well, so that you can quickly whisk any ice off your windows.

A First Aid Kit

You never know what might happen when you are on the road. If you or a passenger happen to get injured due to an accident, it is always helpful to have a first aid kit handy to patch up any wounds and provide treatment where possible. We hope you never have to use it, but it’s better to have it and never use it than to need it and not have it.

Blankets

If your car brakes down in icy conditions, you aren’t going to be able to rely on the in-car heater to keep you warm. As such, you should make sure to pack a few blankets into the car just in case something should go wrong. They may not keep you as snug as a bug, but they will offer valuable protection from the elements should the worst come to worst.

Food And Water

A breakdown is never fun, especially if it happens in an area that has been made difficult to reach because of the cold conditions. Make sure to pack a bottle of water or two and to store it in a location where it won’t freeze up, such as wrapped up inside your blanket. Chuck a few chocolate bars into the glove box as well, so you have something to eat that is also high in sugars.

Spare Phone Batteries and a Charger

If you are really in a bind, the last thing you want is for your phone to suddenly die on you. Make sure that never happens by packing a spare battery, or at the very least a charger that can be used to give your phone a quick boost. With power banks now so popular, there really is no reason why you can’t have something in the car that will allow you to revitalise your phone.

A Torch

Breaking down in the cold is bad. Breaking down in the cold when its dark is worse. Make sure you pack a flashlight in your glove box so that you can navigate around the car and get the blankets and other items that you need in an emergency.