How Every Winter Road Warrior Should Be Armed
Kris Kerr never imagined she'd be trapped on a bus, dining on Rice Krispies Treats and wine...
It was March 2024. She and the other women in a ski group were on their last ski trip of the season.
And it just so happened to be the exact time Colorado got pounded by the biggest snowstorm of the season, too.
Along with hundreds of other motorists, the group spent several hours stranded on Interstate 70. But since they had been on a ski trip, they were dressed warmly. And there were homemade Rice Krispies Treats someone had brought, along with water and wine.
As wildfires began raging in California last week, other states had just gotten walloped with the opposite... a major winter storm. In Arkansas, the National Guard had to go out and help stranded drivers. Tennessee saw more than 600 crashes and 850 stuck drivers. And in Kansas, state troopers were working overtime in the blizzard, patrolling for and aiding stranded drivers.
As a doctor, I'm a firm believer in "an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure." That means monitoring weather conditions and postponing your drive if necessary. But in the event that you do find yourself having to venture out onto the roads this winter, here's how to be prepared...
1. Clean and test your lights. According to a 2018 study from AAA, the average 11-year-old vehicle's headlights generate just about 20% of the illumination as new headlights. That leads to a lot of dangerous situations, particularly in bad weather, that reduces visibility.
If the headlight lenses are clear but the lights seem dim, you probably just need to replace the bulbs. Otherwise, foggy headlights can be remedied with a headlight restoration kit. A few years ago, I had my assistant test out a few products, and the best results for cleaning the headlights on my then-14-year-old Hyundai came from toothpaste.
All you need is plain toothpaste (not the gel kind) or some baking soda mixed with water to form a paste, some soft cloths or microfiber towels, and some water. Clean off any visible grime from the lens, first, and then rub it dry. Apply a thick layer of toothpaste or baking-soda paste. Then gently scrub the headlight using a damp cloth with toothpaste and wipe it off with water. This method should remove about 75% of the grime. If this doesn't work, replacing the headlight's plastic is your next best option.
Once you've got spick-and-span headlights, don't forget to check your car's other lights and make sure they're working. That includes your turn signals, brake lights, hazard lights, and interior lights.
2. Keep your tires full. Air contracts in the cold. This means your tire pressure becomes reduced... along with traction. That means taking longer for your car to stop, as well as slipping and sliding on icy roads. That's your car hydroplaning, which means your tire is surfing on a layer of water instead of gripping and rolling over the pavement.
Lots of gas stations offer free air-refilling stations with built-in pressure gauges. But if you want to fill your tires wherever you are, buy your own pump...
Our franchise manager Laura Bente swears by her EPAuto portable air compressor pump. The device plugs right into your car's 12-volt outlet and only takes a few minutes to fill your tires to the right pressure.
Live in a particularly icy or snowy climate? Consider chains for your tires as well.
3. Check your fluids and wipers. Along with making sure your tires are full, take a peek and make sure you've got enough wiper fluid and coolant. You may want to consider using some de-icer wiper fluid.
On that note, make sure your wipers are in good working condition and that the blades aren't worn. If you need a replacement, we suggest brands like Rain-X and Bosch. Buying them at stores like Advance Auto Parts and AutoZone includes free installation.
4. Check your car battery and connectors. Car batteries more than three years old are more likely to die in the cold. You can pick up a battery tester to check them. Also, make sure you have jumper cables in your vehicle.
5. Check your exhaust pipe. If snow or ice clogs your car's exhaust pipe, you risk filling the inside of your car with deadly carbon monoxide. Check and clear it often.
6. Throw an old blanket or sleeping bag in your trunk. Even better, keep an old pair of gloves in there, too. You know I like to prepare for the worst... Having a blanket and gloves with you in case you get stranded can make a big difference in your safety.
You can also consider getting an "emergency" thermal blanket – you know, the big, Mylar, silver metallic ones that'll make you look like a giant baked potato. The foil coating traps and reflects your radiated body heat back to you, preventing hypothermia.
7. Stock your emergency kit. In addition to the blanket, be sure to have the following:
- Ice scraper
- Mini shovel
- Jumper cables or a portable jump starter
- Water and non-perishable snacks (like granola bars and trail mix)
- First-aid kit
- Hand warmers
- Flashlight with extra batteries (or a hand-crank flashlight)
- Cat litter or sand for traction (the litter absorbs moisture)
- Rock salt (to melt ice)
- Cellphone charger
- Flares
Don't forget about potential passengers, too. Pack an extra blanket, food, and water for each person (or pet) you usually travel with.
8. Drive safely. This should be a no-brainer, but in winter weather, don't use cruise control. You want to be able to react quickly to changes in road conditions. Similarly, it takes longer to stop on wet, snowy, and icy roads. Give yourself time and space to brake safely.
According to Les Schwab Tire Centers, if you're driving at 35 mph, you need to double your braking distance for wet roads, triple it for packed snow, and multiply it by 10 for icy roads. So, if it takes you about 75 feet to stop on a dry road, you need 750 feet in ice – that's about 50 car lengths.
As you're steering, braking, or accelerating, don't do so jerkily. According to Car and Driver magazine, it might help to drive imagining that you're resting a cup of hot coffee in between your thighs.
If you do start to skid, whatever you do, don't slam on the brakes. Doing so will cause you to lose whatever bit of traction you might have had. Stay calm and gently turn the wheel in the direction you had intended to go, while easing off the accelerator.
Got other winter-driving tips? Share them with us at feedback@healthandwealthbulletin.com. For even more tips on preventing disaster and protecting your health (and wealth) from whatever life throws at you, why not take my flagship newsletter Retirement Millionaire for a test-drive? Get all of the details here.
What We're Reading...
- Do a quick check for recalls on your car before hitting the road.
- Something different: You're probably not washing your towels often enough.
Here's to our health, wealth, and a great retirement,
Dr. David Eifrig and the Health & Wealth Bulletin Research Team
January 15, 2025