How to Prepare Your Car for the Road After It Snowed

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By: Taranjit | Last Updated: May 18, 2020

Wet roads and inclement weather means it will take you longer to stop. Remember to keep a safe distance between you and the other cars in any inclement weather conditions. When the road is wet, whether from rain or snow, it is best to stay back because you never know when you will need to hit the brakes, and you don’t want to end up hitting someone or sliding.

Don’t tailgate others! It will end in a disaster.

Snow/Ice

Prep for driving in snowy or icy conditions starts before you even get in your car. Make sure to clean off your car before you hit the road. This can not only save you from a disaster, but can also decreases the chance of others being punished for you not wanting to clean off your car.

According to the Ford Driving Skills for Live Team, it is recommended to clean the snow off your car before you get on the road, especially cleaning off these main parts: headlights, roof, windows, and taillights. All the important parts that help you see in less than ideal conditions should be cleaned off so they do not obstruct your view when you actually get onto the road.

Why is it important to clean all the snow off my car?

Not clearing the snow off your car poses a risk to not only you, but also to the drivers around you. When that snow blows off your car (and trust me, it will eventually blow off), it can create near whiteout conditions for the cars around you, and you do not want to be that one driver who is responsible for obstructing the views of the other drivers. In fact, driving with snow still on the roof of your car is illegal in the state of Michigan.

Don’t be lazy and just clear off your car. Do you want to be responsible for causing an accident? No, right? Then just take the extra 5 minutes and clear it off.

What happens if you don’t do clean off the snow?

You view could be obstructed (if we are stating the obvious). The snow from the roof of your car can slide down your windshield (which I have had happen to me once before and it was not fun), and now you can’t see. And if there is a big chunk of snow, good luck trying to move it with your wipers (not that I am speaking from experience or anything…). It is going to be tough, and now you are driving blind. So save yourself the trouble and just don’t do it.

And you know what is even worse? When you took the time to clear off your car, but the guy in front of you decided that just cleaning off his windshield was enough. Now your car is covered in the snow that he was too lazy to clean off his car. Not fun at all!

Final Thoughts

Be the smart and safer driver and clean off the snow, or at least as much as you can, before you hit the road. You may not experience the consequences of leaving the snow on your car, but other drivers on the road may be punished for it.