Every Driver's Must-Have Winter Driving Accessories

I know summer is right around the corner and most people are putting their winter driving accessories away. But, if there's anything you need to stock up on or replace for the next snowy season, now's the time to do so. Stores are clearing room on their shelves for all the tailgate accessories and sun shades, so you can find your winter driving accessories for a fraction of their regular cost. Plus, there's nothing worse than waking up on a snowy day and knowing that your car isn't ready to take on the frost. Avoid last-minute snow-gear shopping by stocking up today. Here's a list of must-have winter driving accessories.

Snow Tires/ Snow Chains
If you live in an area that snows a lot, you'll definitely want to invest in a good set of snow tires. Snow tires have tread patterns that are designed to dig into the snow and ice, therefore keeping a better grip on snowy and icy surfaces. This grip is critical to make sure your car can stop and steer safely. If you only drive in the snow periodically, tire chains ought to do the trick. Snow chains give you the traction you need to avoid slipping and sliding all over the road.

Rubber Car Mats
Rubber car mats are an absolute must for anyone who has to drive in the snow. While floor mats don't do anything to improve your driving capabilities in the snow, they do a whole lot to protect your interior from anything your boots can drag in. With snow often comes slush and mud, and if you don't have rubber car mats in place, that slush and mud get tracked in all over your carpets. Rubber car mats also provide good all-year protection, guarding against spilled coffees, dirt and debris.

Windshield Washer Heater
Ditch your old snow scrapper and step up to a windshield water heater. Windshield washer heaters heat your washer fluid to 125-135 degrees before spraying. That way you can easily remove frost, ice, snow and other debris from your windshield without having to stand out in the cold with a crummy scrapper. And, since it's powered from your vehicle's electrical system, it uses minimal energy.

Windshield Covers
Keep your windshield from freezing over in the first place by using a windshield cover. Windshield covers are made to withstand sleet, snow, ice and wind, and they cut down on the defrost time. That means you can set your alarm for 10 minutes later in the morning since you won't have to worry about scraping or defrosting your windshield.

Winter Car Accidents

Winters are always very cold and harsh in many countries including many states in the US. The ice, snow, wind, rain, fog and dark environment all contribute to hazardous road conditions. The combination of all the above factors leads to many winter road accidents every year.

Research done on all the road accidents indicates that majority of accidents occur at dusk, because of poor visibility early darkness due to poor visibility and other winter conditions. Another major issue during the winter season is the formation of ice on the roads that blocks traffic and leads to dangerous slippery conditions. Highway authorities try to maintain the roads by plowing and salting most of the major roads and highways. Their main concern is to prevent the roads from icing and clearing snow fast enough to avoid road closures.

In the winter, many cars stop when in motion due to freezing fuel and the accumulation of snow in the engine. This is extremely dangerous as any other vehicle approaching from behind may not be able to stop in time to avoid a collision. Drivers should take extra care while driving on winter roads, and should drive slowly and carefully when the weather is bad. They should make sure that car lights are working properly and tire have optimum pressure. The oil level should be checked often, and drivers should carry blankets, flashlights, etc. at all times during the winter.

It's essential for car drivers to maintain a list of important telephone numbers that can be used in case of an emergency or if the car breaks down. Special fog headlamps and taillights can be installed to help driving in heavy fog.