Properly de-icing your car and driveway is important this time of year because they can present hazards as well as liabilities. Every year, many accidents are caused by ice on the road. Some of them are more avoidable than others. Driving around with low visibility can be extremely dangerous, so taking the time to properly remove ice and snow from your windshield will keep you safer on the road. Similarly, taking the time to ensure that your driveway and sidewalk are not hazardous to you or others can prevent slips and falls. Hopefully, you can use these tips to make your car and home more safe from winter-related accidents.
De-Icing Your Car and Driveway: Best Practices and Why It’s Important
Why De-Ice Your Car?
De-icing your car is important because leaving a layer of debris on your windshield can significantly hinder your visibility. Although ice is see-through, it can distort images. Even just a thin layer of ice or snow can make it more difficult to see potential hazards on the road. It’s also important to scrape off the top of your car so that chunks of snow or ice don’t fall onto your windshield if you brake.
How To
Properly de-icing your car takes time so you’ll need to adjust your morning routine during winter months to give yourself plenty of time. You can purchase de-icer spray from auto shops or online that will help you get the job done. It can also help to turn your car on and turn the exhaust on the windshield. Spray each window from the top down and scrape with a proper ice scraper. Make sure you clean off tail lights, brake lights, and headlights as well as your windshield wipes.
Why De-Ice Your Driveway
It’s also important to de-ice your driveway in addition to de-icing your car in winter months to avoid accidents. It’s very easy to slip and fall on a layer of ice, and unfortunately, these types of accidents can often cause serious
injury. Additionally, you might be held liable if another person slips and falls on your property. While they must be cautious in conditions that might pose a risk, you also must make sure there are no obvious hazards on your property.
How To
To properly de-ice your driveway, it can help to spread rock salt on it before a particularly cold night. However, keep in mind that salt is not pet-friendly. If you are wanting to be careful about pets, investigate other options for products that can prevent ice build-up. Otherwise, you can use a scraper or snow shovel to remove ice from driveways and sidewalks. If you are in a rush and need to cross an icy patch without shoveling, sprinkling kitty litter can help give you some traction, although it doesn’t melt the ice.
Winter can pose a lot of potential risks for your car and pedestrians. It’s important to remember that taking the time to properly de-icing your car and driveway can prevent accidents and injury. Driving with ice or snow on your
windows can significantly cut down on your visibility and make you a liability on the road. Use de-ice spray and a scraper to properly remove snow from your windshield, roof, lights, and mirrors. Additionally, make sure to remove ice from your driveway and the sidewalks around your home to prevent injuries. Use a snow shovel to scrape and give yourself plenty of time to get the job done. Hopefully, this winter, you can use these tips to ensure that you don’t suffer any ice-related accidents or injuries.