Anyone who has spent any time in the Chicago area knows how challenging and hazardous winter driving can be. Your friends at Frank’s Auto Glass want you and all your friends and family to be safe and secure on the road. To accomplish that, we’re passing on some winter driving tips and suggestions to help keep you safe no matter what Mother Nature sends our way.

Get Your Car and Yourself Ready for Winter

If you haven’t already done them, here are some things to do to get through the worst of winter driving conditions.

• Make sure your battery is fully charged and fully functional. Winter puts a huge strain on your vehicle’s battery, and if your battery is around three years old, you might consider replacement before the worst winter weather arrives.
• Keep your gas tank full, or at the least, nearly full. A full tank helps prevent your gas line from freezing during severe winter weather.
• Consider changing your oil. Oil thickens in severe winter weather, and you might want to switch to a thinner grade to keep your engine running efficiently.
• Use the right wiper fluid. You want to fill the wiper fluid reservoir with fluid containing a mix of antifreeze to prevent the fluid from freezing in the reservoir or on your windshield when it is sprayed.
• Check your wiper blades every 2-3 weeks. Winter can be hard on your wiper blades, and damaged blades can scratch your windshield. So check them regularly and replace them when necessary.
• Clear the entire windshield. It’s tempting to clear only an area in front of the steering wheel, but that’s a mistake. Clear the entire windshield of ice and snow to provide a clear line of sight. And to avoid glass damage, use a scraper designed for use on windshields.
• Check your exhaust pipe. You want to make sure the exhaust pipe is clear to prevent carbon monoxide from leaking into the cabin of your vehicle.
• Check your tire tread and tire pressure regularly. You want plenty of tread to grip the road during icy, winter conditions. You also need to check your tire pressure regularly as winter weather causes tire pressure to drop. You might also consider changing to winter tires, especially if you’re going to be doing a lot of highway driving or driving off the main roadways.
• Prepare for emergency situations. This is important if you’re going to be doing highway driving where immediate help may not be available. Some suggestions include kitty litter to help give your tires traction, jumper cables, blankets, a flashlight, bottled water, and some non-perishable food items.
• Make sure your phone is fully charged. Also, bring an emergency charger with you in case you’re stranded for a prolonged period.

Adapt to Winter Driving Conditions

Winter driving presents more than its share of hazards, and the following should help you stay safe.

• Don’t warm up your car in an enclosed area. This practice can lead to carbon monoxide poisoning.
• Allow yourself extra time. Because of road conditions, trips take longer in winter. No matter your destination, give yourself extra time to get there.
• Be extra cautious driving over bridges or roads not exposed to sunlight. These can still be icy after ice has cleared from other areas. Be especially wary of black ice that is extremely hard to see.
• Don’t use cruise control. When conditions are icy, you want to have complete control of your vehicle.
• Don’t hesitate to seek shelter. If you get caught on the road in a storm, don’t try to drive through it. Instead, if at all possible, seek shelter for you and your vehicle and wait for the storm to pass.

Expert Auto Glass Repair and Replacement in Chicago at Frank’s Auto Glass

Road debris thrown up by the vehicles in front of you can be a huge hazard when driving in winter weather. And that debris can lead to serious windshield damage to your vehicle.

If that happens, the technicians at Frank’s Auto Glass can either repair the damage or replace your glass if the damage is too severe to be repaired.

Either way, we can take care of you at Frank’s Auto Glass and have you back on the road in no time at all. And if your budget happens to be a bit tight, we always maintain an inventory of high-quality used auto glass.

For the best auto glass repair and replacement services in Chicagoland, always come to Frank’s Auto Glass.