From the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety

Maintain your car:
· Check your battery—Remember that while you need more power from your battery in the winter, batteries lose power as temperatures drop.
· Check your tires—Make sure they have the proper pressure, or consider replacing them with snow tires.
· Add anti-freeze to your radiator (50% anti-freeze, 50% water). Cars can and do overheat in the winter.
· For areas with low temperatures, consider buying windshield wipers with rubber covers. But be sure to remove them in the spring because they’re heavy and add to the wear and tear of your wiper motor.

Always carry with you:
· Cell phone
· Flashlight
· Jumper cables
· Small shovel
· Warning devices such as flares
· Blankets
· Ice scraper
· Tow chain
· Food
· Water

If your car won’t start or stalls:
· Stay with your car
· Shine the dome light
· To keep warm, run your car just long enough to remove the chill. Keep the window slightly open to avoid carbon monoxide poisoning.

Tips on driving in the rain:
· Slow down because it takes longer to stop on wet roads
· Test your brakes
      With antilock brakes, stomp and steer
      Without antilock brakes, pump them to avoid wheel lock-up
· Increase the distance between you and the car in front of you
· Make sure your windshield wipers are in good working order
       Replace them every 1 to 3 years, depending on the weather and the wear
· If you slide, remember to steer into a skid

Tips on driving in the snow
· Don’t get overconfident
· Be aware of other drivers
· If you’re driving in the snow regularly, replace standard tires with snow tires
· If you’re planning to drive through snow, carry snow chains. (Make sure they fit and that you know how to put them on prior to your departure.)