Even if you’re jet-setting to a warmer destination sometime this winter, you’re still going to need to face the cold, hard facts: Driving in the winter can be a pain. For those who may have been driving for a while, but never in a cold climate, or those who are new to car ownership and are unclear on what the essentials are, this list is for you. And even if you consider yourself a seasoned winter driver, make sure you’re keeping everything you may need for the frigid temps.
First thing’s first—safety. According to MarketWatch, an average of 562,182 Americans get into winter weather-related car crashes each year. And God forbid should you be stuck in a dangerous situation without a medical kit in your car! My recommendation is MyMedic—their first-aid kits come in a range of sizes—and my favorite is the MyFak, complete with bandages, sterile tools, emergency medications and a printed survival guide. These kits can be purchased via mymedic.com and begin at $75 depending on the size. A small price to pay for peace of mind when driving in dangerous conditions.
If you’re not up for purchasing an entire emergency medical kit, please consider a car safety essential—the one-handed tourniquet. These are commonly used in the event of a serious car accident, when severe injuries could cause fatal blood loss without occlusion. The gold standard is the North American Rescue CAT Tourniquet, which is available at many retailers for $35 or less.
There are of course no accidents if you can’t even move your car out of the snow—that’s why I recommend keeping a shovel in your car, even if you usually use the snow shovel you keep in the garage. A collapsible shovel, like the Overmont Aluminum Collapsible Snow Shovel, could save you or someone else in the event of heavy snowfall. I recommend the Overmont for its durability and easy storage, since the handle can come off but is screwed in tight so that it doesn’t wiggle too much while digging; plus at $28 on Amazon, it’s a hard price to beat for a sturdy shovel.
Another recommendation for getting your car out of the snow is a set of traction tracks, which create a raised platform for your car’s tires, using teeth that prevent your car from slipping in snow or ice. These tend to be on the bulkier side, and not everyone has a car big enough to store these, but if you have the room, these are another tool that could ensure the safety of your vehicle (and you). The X-BULL New Recovery Traction Tracks are available on Amazon for $107.
Finally, visibility in the winter weather is key. If you’ve ever had snow stuck on your wipers, and faced a blurry windshield while driving in treacherous conditions, you know that the right wiper blades can make all the difference. My favorites for winter driving are the PEAK Snow Beast Winter Windshield Wiper Blades—not only do they keep snow from sitting on your windshield, but they also make it more challenging for ice to freeze on your wipers. These specialty winter blades can be purchased from Amazon for $20.
Once you have the essentials, there should be no fear in hitting the road in the winter!
Eric Samson is a car enthusiast and entrepreneur. He can be reached at [email protected].
