The number one thing you need for winter driving is a Subaru Outback. Don't have one? Crap...that was pretty much the extent of my post for this week. ::whistles and backs out of this post:: If you aren't "lucky" enough to have an 11 year old beat to shit Subaru like myself ::touches my pearls and tiara:: there are still things you can do to make sure that you will be safe driving this winter.
Please DO NOT comment on this post that you grew up in Nebraska and can drive in any kind of weather and that Seattlelites are a bunch of pusses once a hard frost hits. First, you're right about Seattlelites being pusses in the snow. BUT, more importantly if you haven't driven in Western Washington snow, by all means, please go ahead and drive in it. The rest of us will be at the bottom of Seattle's Queen Anne Hill laughing our asses off while the local news channel records your car sliding sideways and backwards before crashing in to the sign with the blinking light that says "road closed due to ice". Because snow is snow is snow, but ours is heavy/wet snow that freezes over each night and turns the road in to a constantly evolving sheet of ice.
Traction::
Many people in this area have snow tires that you can legally have on your car for 6 months out of the year. I've seen a ton of snow tires on our local freecycle, so if a new pair isn't in your budget, buying them isn't the only option. Me? I don't have snow tires, but my car has good quality all-weather tires, and all wheel drive (love. It's what make a Subaru and Subaru). So far, I've been ok.
You can also purchase (or find them on Freecycle) chains, but the drawback to chains is that you have to know how to put them on. Meh.
If you drive a rear-wheel drive or lightweight vehicle, get a few 45 pound sandbags from a hardware store, and throw those in your trunk. It will help weigh down the car and could get you out of a few potential dicey slippery turns this winter.
Maintenance::
Winter is not the time of year to skimp on oil changes and routine maintenance. Keep your oil "fresh" and your windshield wiper/deicer fluid topped off. I don't change my own oil, and the place where I get it done tops all of those fluids off for free. I take advantage of that and make sure that I'm never low on things that can get me out of a jam.
Before the shit gets real, have your tires rotated and checked over. My family are die-hard Les Schwab tire store fans (free promo courtesy of me) and they will do all of that jazz for free. With a smile. And free popcorn for those who want it.
When the forecast is calling for crappy weather, I make sure my gas tank is full and ready to go. The last thing you want to happen is to run out of gas in horrible weather.
Supplies:::
Year round, I keep a big picnic blanket and an emergency supply kit in my trunk. The blanket is water-proof on one side, and warm fleece on the other. The emergency kit contains a fire extinguisher, flashlight, foil blankets, bungee cords, and a handful of other items.
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| From the left - my bag of grocery bags, water, blanket, and emergency kit |
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| Ice scraping mitt |
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| Snacks, baby wipes, first aid kit, ice mitt, and umbrella |
Drive safely my friends!
Love this post. I need to get some snacks to my car, though the likelyhood of me getting stuck anywhere with no immediate rescue are sort of small. But as they say, better safe than sorry. I just bought one of those mitten-ice scraper thingies (for $1 though), and although not quite as nice, should do the trick for this winter.
ReplyDeleteI have driven in Western WA snow...it's the same as snow in IL, MN, or WI. The difference in Seattle is that you can absolutely count on the municipal authorities having no idea WTF to do anytime it snows. So they bravely deploy their massive fleet of seven or eight rubber-bladed plows to compress the snow down farther and farther until it turns into sheet ice, which leads to much hilarity, usually ending in hipsters riding in woks down Capital Hill and a rousing game of Bus Billiards over the side of I-5.
ReplyDeleteStill, the complete inability of city and county officials to deal with any snow is a fantastic reason to do all the things you recommend (especially the car maintenance!) -- you can be the best winter driver around and still get stranded if your city drops the ball when it comes to snow removal. I'd add a few things to what you suggest:
• Skip the sand -- toss in bags of the cheapest kitty litter you can find, instead. It works much better than sand for getting traction on ice when you're stuck, and has the same benefit of weighing your car down.
• If you can find one, get one of those little collapsible shovels and keep it in your trunk. If you can't, use a kids' garden shovel. A heavy-duty badass ice-scraper (like this) is also a good idea for those really nasty ice storms...it's much more effective than the little ones at chipping inch-thick ice off your windshield.
• Keep an extra winter hat, thick wool socks, and a pair of gloves in your emergency kit, especially the gloves -- nothing sucks more than having to dig yourself out the one time you forgot your gloves, and if you have to set out for help, it's your extremities you have to worry about most.
• If you have to, park and walk up the hill rather than risking it in your car.
Great series of posts, by the way! :)
i live in Indiana and the roads aren't too bad, but I'm lucky and don't have to get out if i don't want to. BUT there has been times when I've been at work and the storm hits. I also keep kitty litter in my car,snacks, extra clothes and such but i also keep a couple coloring books, paper and crayons in the car for my son. OH and i have heard that if u keep a candle w/ matches in your car, that the heat from the candle will keep u from freezing to death. i dont know how true that is. but i do keep 1 in my car w/ MATCHES not a lighter.
ReplyDeleteI don't live at all near the snow but I do keep an earthquake kit in my car. I always have sneakers, water, extra clothes for my kids, blankets, and an umbrella in my trunk. I should keep some snacks though.
ReplyDeleteOh goodness you guys are smart - I totally forgot about the kitty litter! I think my mom used to do that.
ReplyDeleteAnd :smacks head: gloves and matches; oh course! I have gloves in my front seat, and matches in the emergency kit.
And Angela - you're right about the 7 snow plows for a city of 1 million people!
I am socking with some helpful and very interesting stuff here! keep the parts coming!@boseTransportation CV Templates
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