Winter Weather Still A Possibility: It’s Not Too Late To Get Prepared

The weather this winter has not been as extreme as it has been in previous years here in the state of Connecticut.  One might go as far as to say that the weather has been balmy for January and February in New England.  Don’t get lulled into a false sense of “spring is coming” because March has shown serious signs of bringing wintry weather to the Nutmeg State before and there’s no reason to think that this year wouldn’t bring the same.  Despite the fact that the winter weather hasn’t really arrived, if you’ve lived in New England for any amount of time you know that winter weather could be just a day away.

With that said, if you failed to prepare your vehicle for the winter way back in October or November like you might in a normal year, you’re in luck.  The winter weather still hasn’t arrived and you have time to look at your vehicle and get it prepared in case it does arrive in March or even April.  If you prepare now you are much less likely to get into a New Haven auto accident if/when the wintry weather arrives this year.

The question then becomes, what do you need to do to prepare your vehicle for winter weather?  There is good news, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has detailed some of the most important things you can do to make sure your vehicle is in the safest possible position were you to encounter weather conditions that are less then ideal for driving.  Here are the things that the NHTSA suggests you do to prepare your vehicle;

1.) Check the lights on your vehicle.  The gray and cloudy conditions that come with winter weather often mimic driving at night and without good lighting your vehicle could be asking for trouble.  You should make sure that your headlights, brake lights, tail lights, fog lights and turn signals are all working properly.  If they are not, get them repaired immediately.

2.) Windshield wipers.  During a winter storm your windshield wipers can be the piece of equipment in your vehicle that is keeping you safe.  If they are not functioning properly or are worn down they could be detrimental to your ability to drive without incident.  Now is a good time to test them out and replace them if they need to be replaced.  During this safety check you will also want to check your windshield wiper fluid and make sure that it is full and ready to be used at a moments notice.

3.) Tire pressure.  The pressure in your tires can fluctuate drastically with the changing temperatures.  This year in particular, as the temperatures have varied widely you should keep an eye on the pressure in your tires.  They should always be filled to the manufacturer’s suggested pounds per square inch (PSI) and if they fall below that recommendation they should be filled.

These three simple checks can be the difference between getting into a New Haven auto accident when the weather turns cold and wintry and arriving safely at your destination with a warm cup of tea.  Don’t let the New England weather fool you this year, be ready for it and if it never comes, well at least you worked on your vehicle to improve some of the safety features that will come in handy along the way in any weather conditions.

If you find yourself in an auto accident and you get injured you may need to speak with an attorney who can review your situation.  Contact our office and speak with one of our experienced attorneys.  They will work with you to understand your situation and protect your long-term interests.