An important tool to keep in your car is an ice scraper. It will help your windshield defrost faster if you remove the snow and ice. Courtney Prielipp | The Washtenaw Voice
Beck Elandt
Contributor
With the temperature dropping and snowy, salty roads right around the corner, it’s a good time to attend to your vehicle’s maintenance.
“Tires that don’t have proper tread depth put you in a very precarious position on slippery roads,” says John Leacher, chief of Public Safety, on the topic of tire rotations; an important protocol for maintaining longevity as well as an even tread recession, for safety and financial sake.
“You’re gonna be using the bug juice a lot more this time of the year,” Leacher said, referring to windshield de-icer spray, a thing many forget to refresh when their windshield ices up, that helps melt and clear away ice and snow.
In addition to the car’s maintenance, another thing to keep in mind is how drivers should adapt to changing weather.
“Make sure you maintain larger distances than you think are necessary between you and the vehicle in front of you because stopping distances are going to increase,” Leacher said.
Leacher notes that escape routes are key to avoiding collisions, and preparing your car with a blanket, extra clothes, and water is necessary if something unpredictable happens.
