While most of Australia experiences mild winters, its northern and alpine regions face extreme cold temperatures. Cold not only affects living stock, but also mechanical components. Frost and snow can disrupt daily life by freezing roads and the mechanical systems of vehicles. For example, windscreens may be covered in frost or snow, cold temperature drains the batteries of the car, sometimes leading to jammed doors and windows. The chances of slipping off tyres and random collisions also increase on wet and snowy roads. These issues can become dangerous if you’re stuck inside the vehicle without help. A car survival kit will be handy in such situations to cope.
In this blog, we will discuss various methods to prepare your vehicle for winter, including a car emergency kit that every driver should keep in their vehicle.
Ways to Prepare Your Car for Winter
- Check Your Battery Regularly
Have a check on your battery, especially if it’s older than 3 years. Also, check for corrosion around the terminals. In winter, the chances of the battery draining are very high. Regular checkups will save you from getting stuck unnecessarily due to the battery draining out.
- Inspect Your Tyres Regularly
Cold weather affects the tyre pressure, regularly monitor your tyres and maintain tread depth to 1.5mm as required by the Australian government to be on the safe side. Also, try to keep snow chains in snow-prone areas.
- Always Carry an Emergency Car Tool Kit In Your Vehicle
If driving in an alpine zone or a rural area, then carrying an emergency car tool kit is essential. Whether driving alone or with people, in the city or outer of the city, during the day or at night, this emergency car survival kit is indispensable.
- Check the Coolant or Anti-Freeze
Your vehicle’s engine needs antifreeze and coolant to keep your engine cool from overheating and also protect it from freezing. A mixture of 50-50 water and antifreeze is the ideal proportion for snow conditions.
- Inspect Your Headlight and Wipers Regularly
Inspect your headlight to maintain clear visibility of the road on foggy days. Also, check your wipers, indicators, and brakes to drive safely on the roads.
- Keep Fueled Up in Your Car’s Tank
Keep your fuel level in the fuel line, at least half full, to prevent condensation and avoid getting stranded.
- Check the Functioning Of The Heater and Defroster
It is advised to regularly check your defroster and heater so that they can avoid fogging and help you to see clearly while driving.
Car Emergency Kit
Here is the listed emergency car tool kit, which you should always carry in your vehicle. This toolkit will help you to avoid serious mishaps with these aided tools like reflective sign boards, jackets, a tow rope, jumper cables, gloves, and a multi-functional torch. Let us learn more in detail about how and when to use these.
● Jumper Cables
A dead battery is one of the most common issues faced in Australia. Due to the cold, the vehicle’s battery can be easily worn out, so these jumper cables will save you from getting stuck anywhere.
● Reflective Emergency Vest
If suddenly your cars break down, you come out and open your bonnet to check things out, then wear this reflective emergency vest first. It makes you visible on the dull, snowy, and foggy road from a distance. This will help other drivers to maintain a safe distance from you, thus ensuring your safety.
● Reflective Triangle
If your car is pulled out and it is not starting even though you are trying everything, and waiting for help, then a reflective triangle placed near your car will warn approaching traffic.
● Pair of Gloves
If you are facing an issue like a flat tire or doing some random checks in your bonnet, then these grip gloves will make it easy for you to carry out your work neatly and safely.
● Tow Rope
After struggling, you have tried everything and still your vehicle is not moving, then the only option left is towing. The tow rope in your emergency car tool kit will help tow your vehicle to the nearest safe location
● Multi-functional Torch
Stuck in jammed windows and doors, or your seatbelt is fixed because of mishaps, then a multifunctional torch will help you to see clearly in the dark, and its in-built seat belt cutter and glass breaker help you escape safely from the vehicle. This tool can be your lifesaver in such a scenario.
Conclusion
Winters feel different in various regions of Australia; it’s mild in the north, and colder and sometimes even frosty in the south. Vehicles need extra care in colder temperatures. You never know when an emergency might occur.
Before winter strikes, you should check the condition of your vehicle, its battery, tyres, brakes, coolant and antifreeze levels. Apart from this, a car emergency tool kit needs to be in the car. This would help you tackle any emergency. A company like Roofsign in Australia, considers the need and offers you a car emergency tool kit, which includes essentials like a multifunctional torch, reflective jackets, a sign, jumper cables and a tow rope. Stay safe and confident on the road in all seasons with a car survival kit that even helps to break glass and cut jammed seat belts in case of emergencies.