After a dear elderly friend got frostbite after she was stranded on a highway in her car due to an accident that stopped traffic for hours during a snowstorm, I learned some items that every car should have during the winter. They are a large tin can and substantial candle and matches to maintain warmth for longer periods of time.
Since it is recommended that you don't leave the car idling for long, instead turn off the car and light the candle and place it in the can and hold it. It will keep you and your hands warm while waiting. It is also recommended that you open your window a crack every once in a while. A spare blanket, heavy warm gloves, water and some healthier snack foods (bag of nuts, granola bar, etc) should be included in your kit.
It is also recommended that if you are ever in one of these situations (and for most accidents), you should not get out of your car. More people are hit by other drivers during these snow and multiple pile up type of events than if they just stayed in their cars.
This page contains the following solutions.
My dad suggested I take a piece of my gum I was chewing and press it over the key area, which I did. The next morning, I barely bumped the small frozen solid patch of gum off the keyhole area to find my key area was not frozen!
In the winter, my hands occasionally become so cold that it is uncomfortable. To keep a good grip on the steering wheel and stay warm at the same time, I tried a pair of fingerless gloves (aka gauntlets).
Besides the usual guff about gearing down appropriately for an automatic or manual transmission, why not reveal the following secret? Use the brake pedal BEFORE you enter curves, not in the curve!
When going into extreme weather conditions, have your automobile checked out thoroughly. Don't cut corners if possible. It's for your own safety as well as for others.
When snow and ice are on the ground, you see a lot of people loading the bed of their pickup truck with heavy stuff to help with traction on the slippery roads. Please remember that whatever you have in the back of the truck can go flying if you are involved in a crash.
Here are the questions asked by community members. Read on to see the answers provided by the ThriftyFun community.
How can I prevent ice and snow build up on wipers while driving? It is a pain when you are driving and you have to pull over to knock off the ice and snow all the time. And yes I do try the windshield washer fluid, but it doesn't seem to help much. Thanks.
By Dieter
You may need new wipers - look for ones to fit your vehicle that claim to reduce ice/slush build up.
Also consider changing your window screen fluid to one rated for the winters in your area - this really makes a difference. Winter rated windscreen wash typically contains a special blend of anti-fog+anti-ice chemical (NOT the antifreeze you would use in the cooling system, btw).
Another tip is to 'sharpen' your wiper blades once a week by using a fine grit piece of sandpaper - fold a 6x6" square of the paper and run the blade through the fold several times applying pressure to both sides of the fold with your fingers.
I've lived and owned motor vehicles in Alaska, New England, NorthWest Georgia (USA), and in Scotland - areas with harsh winters. Using the tips I noted above kept my windscreens free and wiper blade clean no matter the weather.
How can I prevent snow and ice from covering my outside vents on a Pontiac Montana? It hard to defrost because of it.
By B F from Kentucky
