Here is a good article submitted by a student's parent that has good tips for safer winter driving.
https://thewirecutter.com/blog/tips-and-tools-for-safer-winter-driving/
Tips and Tools for Safer Winter Driving
November 1, 2018
Tim Heffernan
Long before the first snowstorm hits, the onset of cool weather brings
a unique set of dangers and inconveniences to driving. Tires lose
pressure when the mercury drops, sometimes becoming dangerously (and
invisibly) deflated. Batteries lose power in the cold too, leading to
a rash of dead cars and curbside jumpstarts. Short days mean that
commutes—and emergencies—often happen in the dark. Here, Wirecutter’s
experts offer advice and tools, from a portable electric tire pump to
a rechargeable headlamp, to help you stay safe behind the wheel until
summer returns.
Check and correct your tire pressure
Your car’s tires will gain or lose about 1 psi of air pressure for
every 10-degree change (colder air equals lower pressure). With that
in mind, here’s a surprising fact: In the US, the Plains States, the
Midwest, and the Northeast experience some of the widest annual
fluctuations in temperature of any region on Earth—often 100
Fahrenheit degrees between summer and winter. That means a tire
properly inflated for the summer may be running low now. What’s more,
a dangerously low tire won’t always be obvious to the eye, and even a
short drive to the gas station can warm your tires enough that they’ll
register a false safe pressure at the air pump.
The safest approach (in both winter and summer) is to check your tires
after your car has been stationary overnight. The Accu-Gage 60 PSI
with shock protector is a Wirecutter staff favorite for its
easy-to-read dial, rubber gauge guard, and handy bleed valve—which
makes it easy to slightly overinflate your tires and then drop back to
the exact recommended pressure, rather than inching up and checking
repeatedly. (You can find the recommended pressure for your car either
in the manual or on a placard in the driver’s-side doorjamb.)
The easiest way to add air to a tire is to use a portable tire
inflator, which simply plugs into a car’s 12-volt outlet (aka
cigarette lighter). After testing 20 tire inflators, Wirecutter
recommends the Viair 78P. A floor-standing bike pump also works, and
in that category Wirecutter recommends the Lezyne Classic Floor Drive.
Ten pumps of the handle will inflate a standard 17-inch car tire by
roughly 1 psi, so you aren’t signing up for a strenuous workout.
Be ready for a dead battery
A dead battery is a major inconvenience, and if it strands you in cold
weather, a safety concern. Wirecutter extensively tested portable jump
starters, and our pick is the Weego 22s. It holds enough juice to jump
standard cars, small pickups, and compact SUVs, and it holds its
charge for at least a year. About the size of a smartphone, it
features warning lights and a loud alarm that together tell you if
you’ve hooked it up incorrectly, and its reverse-polarity protection
prevents any unsafe discharge of power. For larger vehicles, such as
full-size SUVs and pickups, Wirecutter recommends the Powerall
PBJS12000-R.
Tools to clear ice and snow
Wirecutter tested ice scrapers at Ford’s cold-weather testing facility
in Dearborn, Michigan, in 2015. Three years of extended real-world
testing later, the Hopkins 80037 is still our favorite. Its sharp
plastic scraper blade is just flexible enough to conform to the curves
of windshields. Its telescoping handle measures 5 feet when fully
extended, enough to reach all the way across the roofs of most SUVs
and trucks. And its combination brush-and-squeegee head efficiently
sweeps away both powdery and wet snow without scratching paint.
Wirecutter has tested all types of snow shovels too. For keeping in
the car, we like the Voilé Telepro Avalanche. Popular among
backcountry ski-trail crews, it’s just 39 inches long when assembled,
and it has a paint-friendly but sturdy plastic scoop.
Roadside safety
Wirecutter has a comprehensive guide to roadside emergencies, but here
are a few simple items that will help you stay safe and relatively
comfortable in the event of a winter stranding.
Far more convenient than a flashlight, a headlamp keeps both of your
hands free to replace a tire or steady yourself on the trek to the
nearest gas station. Wirecutter recommends the Black Diamond ReVolt
for the car—you can top up its rechargeable AAA batteries (included)
via the USB port.
Commonsense wisdom
Replace your wiper blades if it’s been more than a year. Top up your
washer fluid, making sure to use a de-icer formula so that it doesn’t
freeze on the glass. And here's a driving tip (and a law in some
states): If your wipers are on, your lights should be, too.
Keep a bag of cheap clay cat litter in the trunk. If you’re stuck on
ice or mud, the grit will help give you the grip to escape.
If you do get stuck, your car’s manual will show the “tow points,”
where a rope or strap can be safely attached. (These may include bolt
holes hidden behind your bumpers; your car’s tire kit will include the
right-size eyebolt to screw in.)
Finally, consider keeping a bit of cash on hand when bad weather
threatens. You may not be able to put an emergency tow on your credit
card—and even a Good Samaritan will appreciate a tip in thanks.
https://thewirecutter.com/blog/tips-and-tools-for-safer-winter-driving/
Tips and Tools for Safer Winter Driving
November 1, 2018
Tim Heffernan
Long before the first snowstorm hits, the onset of cool weather brings
a unique set of dangers and inconveniences to driving. Tires lose
pressure when the mercury drops, sometimes becoming dangerously (and
invisibly) deflated. Batteries lose power in the cold too, leading to
a rash of dead cars and curbside jumpstarts. Short days mean that
commutes—and emergencies—often happen in the dark. Here, Wirecutter’s
experts offer advice and tools, from a portable electric tire pump to
a rechargeable headlamp, to help you stay safe behind the wheel until
summer returns.
Check and correct your tire pressure
Your car’s tires will gain or lose about 1 psi of air pressure for
every 10-degree change (colder air equals lower pressure). With that
in mind, here’s a surprising fact: In the US, the Plains States, the
Midwest, and the Northeast experience some of the widest annual
fluctuations in temperature of any region on Earth—often 100
Fahrenheit degrees between summer and winter. That means a tire
properly inflated for the summer may be running low now. What’s more,
a dangerously low tire won’t always be obvious to the eye, and even a
short drive to the gas station can warm your tires enough that they’ll
register a false safe pressure at the air pump.
The safest approach (in both winter and summer) is to check your tires
after your car has been stationary overnight. The Accu-Gage 60 PSI
with shock protector is a Wirecutter staff favorite for its
easy-to-read dial, rubber gauge guard, and handy bleed valve—which
makes it easy to slightly overinflate your tires and then drop back to
the exact recommended pressure, rather than inching up and checking
repeatedly. (You can find the recommended pressure for your car either
in the manual or on a placard in the driver’s-side doorjamb.)
The easiest way to add air to a tire is to use a portable tire
inflator, which simply plugs into a car’s 12-volt outlet (aka
cigarette lighter). After testing 20 tire inflators, Wirecutter
recommends the Viair 78P. A floor-standing bike pump also works, and
in that category Wirecutter recommends the Lezyne Classic Floor Drive.
Ten pumps of the handle will inflate a standard 17-inch car tire by
roughly 1 psi, so you aren’t signing up for a strenuous workout.
Be ready for a dead battery
A dead battery is a major inconvenience, and if it strands you in cold
weather, a safety concern. Wirecutter extensively tested portable jump
starters, and our pick is the Weego 22s. It holds enough juice to jump
standard cars, small pickups, and compact SUVs, and it holds its
charge for at least a year. About the size of a smartphone, it
features warning lights and a loud alarm that together tell you if
you’ve hooked it up incorrectly, and its reverse-polarity protection
prevents any unsafe discharge of power. For larger vehicles, such as
full-size SUVs and pickups, Wirecutter recommends the Powerall
PBJS12000-R.
Tools to clear ice and snow
Wirecutter tested ice scrapers at Ford’s cold-weather testing facility
in Dearborn, Michigan, in 2015. Three years of extended real-world
testing later, the Hopkins 80037 is still our favorite. Its sharp
plastic scraper blade is just flexible enough to conform to the curves
of windshields. Its telescoping handle measures 5 feet when fully
extended, enough to reach all the way across the roofs of most SUVs
and trucks. And its combination brush-and-squeegee head efficiently
sweeps away both powdery and wet snow without scratching paint.
Wirecutter has tested all types of snow shovels too. For keeping in
the car, we like the Voilé Telepro Avalanche. Popular among
backcountry ski-trail crews, it’s just 39 inches long when assembled,
and it has a paint-friendly but sturdy plastic scoop.
Roadside safety
Wirecutter has a comprehensive guide to roadside emergencies, but here
are a few simple items that will help you stay safe and relatively
comfortable in the event of a winter stranding.
Far more convenient than a flashlight, a headlamp keeps both of your
hands free to replace a tire or steady yourself on the trek to the
nearest gas station. Wirecutter recommends the Black Diamond ReVolt
for the car—you can top up its rechargeable AAA batteries (included)
via the USB port.
Commonsense wisdom
Replace your wiper blades if it’s been more than a year. Top up your
washer fluid, making sure to use a de-icer formula so that it doesn’t
freeze on the glass. And here's a driving tip (and a law in some
states): If your wipers are on, your lights should be, too.
Keep a bag of cheap clay cat litter in the trunk. If you’re stuck on
ice or mud, the grit will help give you the grip to escape.
If you do get stuck, your car’s manual will show the “tow points,”
where a rope or strap can be safely attached. (These may include bolt
holes hidden behind your bumpers; your car’s tire kit will include the
right-size eyebolt to screw in.)
Finally, consider keeping a bit of cash on hand when bad weather
threatens. You may not be able to put an emergency tow on your credit
card—and even a Good Samaritan will appreciate a tip in thanks.
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