5 Car tips for the cold season

During these cold times it becomes more risky to drive. Here are some easy tips to make sure that you are at your safest:

1. Heater/defroster
   Before it gets too cold make sure that the heater and defroster in your car is in good working order. This is not only in the interest of keeping yourself and your passengers toasty and comfortable while on the road, it is also essential for visibility, especially on those frosty early morning commutes. You windows and windscreen fog up during the winter because there is too much humidity in the car- this is because the air outside is colder than the air inside which lowers the relative humidity point. Simply turn on your defroster when this happens, warm dry air will clear up the fogginess in no time.
   
   
2. Windscreen wipers
   In some parts of the country winter brings the rain, so it would only make sense to ensure that your windscreen wipers are working effectively. When windscreen wipers and blades don’t work correctly, you don’t have a clear vision of the road in front of you, increasing the risk of collision. Wiper blades are made of rubber and deteriorate after a while, try to replace yours every six to twelve months.
   
   
3. Tyres
   You should always check that your tyre pressure and tread are what they should be but is especially important during the winter when some roads can become very slippery. When driving on slippery roads it is important that your tyres have enough grip; the deeper the tread the more grip your tyres will have. 
   
   
4. Brakes
   It goes without saying that your brakes are the most important safety feature of your vehicle and that they should be in perfect working condition at all times. During winter, in the Western Cape for example, it rains, resulting in big puddles of water on the road. When you drive through these puddles your brakes get wet which seriously decreases their braking ability. After driving through water, lightly brake to make sure that your brakes are working as well as before.
   
   
5. Lights
   During the cold months rain and fog drastically decreases visibility which makes having bright, working headlights even more essential than usual. Try to drive with your headlights on all of the time, they not only show you where you’re going and whether there are any obstacles in the way, they also make it easier for other motorists to see you. Check all your lights and see whether all the globes are shining at the desired brightness.

Following the above tips may decrease your chances of having an unpleasant experience on the road, but in case that happens, make sure that your vehicle is insured with Dialdirect.