冬季用车小贴士
帮助 prepare your car for winter with these tips.
冬天的路况会变得非常危险. 有雾的时候，道路可能会变得潮湿、下雪、泥泞或结冰，能见度很低. Of all weather-related crashes, 24% occur on slushy, icy or snowy roads. In 2020, weather-related crashes resulted in 374人死亡.
州和地方机构的开支 $2.30亿年 every year for snow removal and ice control, but even on a relatively short trip, you could find yourself stranded for several hours. It's important to plan ahead, like 穿得暖暖的，以应对随着冬季条件的发展可能出现的情况.
冬季汽车保养小贴士
计划 给你的车防寒 before the first storm of the season. 考虑检查或与你的机械师讨论以下问题:
- 测试 电池的力量.
- 检查排气系统和空气、燃料和排放过滤器.
- Check the heating and cooling system, windshield wiper and antifreeze fluid levels, 换机油.
- Check both the front window and rear window defrosters.
- 检查软管、风机皮带及所有部件是否工作正常.
- Consider changing the spark plugs.
- Each week, check the tire pressure and tread life. 考虑安装 冬用轮胎 as they're made to give you better traction on cold pavement.
- Locate the spare tire, jack and 刮冰机.
- Check both the front and rear lights. 车头灯应该提供尽可能明亮的照明. 更换烧坏的灯泡.
- 检查你的雨刷片，看看它们是否功能正常，状况良好.
- If your 车辆 runs on diesel, be wary about the fact that 柴油会凝结 在非常寒冷的温度下. Winter fuel additives can be a good preventative. 也要注意，你的燃油滤清器可能会被凝胶燃料堵塞, which would cause the 车辆 to stall.
Some simple winter driving tips
从你开车的那一刻起，冬季驾驶就有它自己的一套挑战. 这里有一些有用的 冬季驾驶建议:
- 清霜，雪，冰 thoroughly from all windows and exterior mirrors of your car. 在开车时，把雪刷掉，防止雪吹进你的视线.
- Never warm up your 车辆 in a closed garage. 这可能会导致 一氧化碳问题.
- 考虑保持你的油箱至少半满，以帮助防止天然气管道冻结. 如果你被困在雪地里等待救援，或者你有紧急情况需要开车去某个地方，把油箱装满也是个好主意.
- Check that your exhaust pipe is not clogged with mud or snow.
- Don't use cruise control on icy roads.
- 允许 more time and space for braking 能见度低时.
- Try to stay calm if you start to skid and 做好迎接黑冰的准备.
- If your 车辆 has anti-lock brakes, 熟悉他们是如何操作的，这样你就不会感到惊讶，如果你的ABS刹车参与光滑的驾驶条件.
所有司机都应该考虑在冬天开车时格外小心. Slow down and allow additional time to get to your destination.
携带冬季驾驶装备
Winter weather could leave you stuck in the snow, 但是，在你的冬季驾驶工具包中包括以下物品可能会帮助你重新上路:
- 小型折叠铲
- 拖链和轮胎链条
- 基本工具箱
- Bag of road salt or cat litter
- Flares, battery powered flashlights and 额外的电池
- Bright cloth to tie on your car
- 吹口哨
- Extra windshield 雨刷液 and antifreeze
- 跨接电缆 或者一个外部电池充电器，如果你的电池没电了，可以启动你的车
准备一个冬季生存包
保持一个 应急装备 and small winter survival kit on hand. 一些有用的项目包括:
- 急救箱
- 手机充电器
- 刮冰刷
- 药物
- 毯子, 温暖的衣服, 帽子和手套, 围巾, 暖手暖脚器, 羊毛袜和其他寒冷天气的装备可以防止体温过低
- 绝缘瓶装饮用水和高能量不易变质食品
Snow safety tips if you become stranded in the winter
Few people like driving through a snow storm, 许多人注意到当暴风雨来袭时不要上路的警告. But even the best-prepared and expert drivers can get stuck. If it happens to you, 在这里 are some important reminders:
- 做好准备. 虽然最好的第一步是预防，但有些风暴来的很快. 如果你被困住了, keeping a few essentials in your car, 如上所述, can help keep you comfortable while you wait.
- 呆在室内. 如果可能的话, 把车开下高速公路，打开你的危险灯，或者在你的汽车天线或门把手上系上明亮的东西，表明你需要帮助. 然后在车里等救援人员到来，避免暴露在 frostbite and help prevent hypothermia.
- 拨打911. 如果你的手机和接收信号都有电，打电话求助并尽可能描述你的位置.
- 清理排气管. Watch for oncoming traffic before exiting your 车辆. See that no snow is covering your tailpipe to help prevent potential carbon monoxide buildup 在车里. 如果你可以安全地这样做，定期检查排气管，以确保新雪没有堵塞它.
- 继续前进. Staying active inside your car may help you keep warm. 拍拍你的手，轻拍你的脚趾，以帮助保持血液循环，防止冻伤, but try to avoid overexertion and sweating.
- 多喝水. 脱水会使你更容易受到寒冷的影响. If t在这里's no drinking water inside your car, 试着在袋子或其他临时杯子里融化一些雪，以帮助保持水分.
- Conserve your 车辆's battery. Use the lights, heat, and radio sparingly.
- 发动引擎. Provided you have enough gas in your tank, 每小时发动引擎大约10分钟，以帮助保持汽车温暖. 当你的引擎开着的时候打开车内灯，这样你在车里就能被更多人看到. Open a downwind window slightly for ventilation.
- 不要过度劳累. Cold weather can put your heart under added stress. If you're not used to exercise, 铲雪或推车可能会增加心脏病发作的风险.
Stay safe and warm this winter. 了解更多关于如何 prepare for and recovery from winter storms. And to learn more about our Emergency Roadside Service, 联系您的代理商.
