Do You Want to Build a Snowman? Tips for Safe Driving in the Snow
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After months and months (and months) of hearing your precious kiddos sing “Do You Want to Build a Snowman?” the time has finally come to build one in real life. A ski resort a couple of hours from your home is holding a family day, and you want to bring your kids there for a fun-filled day of making snow angels, maybe trying the bunny slope a few times and, of course, building your own personal Olaf. Since you don’t regularly drive through snowy white conditions, you might need to purchase some specific gear to help you arrive safe and sound. Before hitting the snow-covered roads, consider picking up the following winter travel items:
A Winter Travel Kit
When you are traveling in icy and snowy conditions, it’s a good idea to have a well-stocked winter travel kit in your vehicle. This way, if you encounter a long backup in traffic or the weather changes for the worst, you will be well-supplied with items to help you get through the delay.
Your winter travel kit should contain things like a flashlight or two, a bag of kitty litter — this can help provide needed traction on the road — bottled water, high-protein snacks for the whole family, thermoses of cocoa and coffee, blankets, and extra hats, scarves and gloves for everybody. Of course, you should also bring your fully-charged mobile phone with you for the drive, as well as a car charger.
If you have room in your trunk, you might also consider bringing a small snow shovel.
Tires That Can Handle the Snow
Before you head out for a fun-filled day in the snow, make sure your car’s tires are up for the challenge. Even if your tires are relatively new and are still in great shape, you might consider switching them out to a brand that can really handle snowy conditions.
All-season tires feature sipes and pattern edges that will tackle snow-covered roads with ease. Traction grooves also help the tires grip the surface. In case you are unfamiliar with the term “sipe,” it is essentially a channel or groove that is added to the tread of the tires to help them bite into the snow.
These tires can handle dry and wet road conditions, which means no matter what type of weather you encounter on your family snow day, your tires will help you through it.
Heated Ice Scraper
If you don’t encounter an icy windshield regularly, you do not think you need a scraper. But you should purchase one before your snow day. While a plastic club card from your local grocery store can work as an ice scraper in a pinch, if your windshield gets covered with ice and snow during your day of fun, you’ll need something bigger and more robust to cut through the icy covering effectively.
An electric ice scraper plugs into a car lighter jack and sometimes features a built-in flashlight. As the ice scraper heats up, it will slice through the ice like butter and help clear your windshield and make it safe to drive.
Krystle, creator of Home Jobs by MOM, swapped her psychology degree for motherhood adventures. Now in Kentucky with her husband and teenage sons (15 & 19), she balances cooking, DIY projects, and launching her next business venture. Texas-born but Kentucky-living, she’s still sharing her journey as her family grows up.
Thank you for sharing these great tips. I moved to Florida from Michigan so I didn’t have to deal with this. I never know when I might have to though. Thank you so much for sharing
I grew up on Long Island, and even went to college in NH, so I am used to driving in snow. Now I live in SC and we get a 1/4 inch of snow and the drivers loose their minds. BUT, just when I want to scream, “MOVE”, I take a breathe and remind myself that this is how people must have felt when I lived in Texas – blinding rain and no one but me slows down.
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Dating Successfully In An Online World
Linda Linneman
Thank you for sharing these great tips. I moved to Florida from Michigan so I didn’t have to deal with this. I never know when I might have to though. Thank you so much for sharing
Home Jobs By Mom
You know about real Snow then 😉
Tonya c
I love doing activities like this, this is a great posts.
Krystle
The snow can be super fun but we need to be safe when driving in it.
Lexie
That is such a helpful post. I love doing this kind of activities
Krystle
I love doing them too!
nicole escat
I want to visit for the snowy place. we don’t have a snow in my country
Krystle
Wow. I hope you get to visit somewhere white and beautiful one day!
April Grant
These are all a great tips. I never been in a snow place and i would love to experience it.
Krystle
Visit somewhere snowy sometime. It’s lot of fun!
Elizabeth O.
That’s definitely helpful. I miss doing these type of activities with the kids, they are all grown up now!
Krystle
Do you have grandchildren yet? You could do stuff with the grandkids 🙂
Michelle Gwynn Jones
I grew up on Long Island, and even went to college in NH, so I am used to driving in snow. Now I live in SC and we get a 1/4 inch of snow and the drivers loose their minds. BUT, just when I want to scream, “MOVE”, I take a breathe and remind myself that this is how people must have felt when I lived in Texas – blinding rain and no one but me slows down.
Krystle
I know what you mean. I live in Texas now. Much different weather than Kentucky.
Bonnie Kenaz-Mara
Smart tips. Lucky to live in Chicago where people know how to drive in snow.
Krystle
Yes, it is lucky. Where I live now if it snowed the city would shut down LOL.
Ana De- Jesus
I agree heated ice scrapers are great for getting ride of ice especially in the weather we have been having!
Krystle
Yes, it beats having to run back in the house for a bucket of hot water!
Robin Rue (@massholemommy)
These are great tips for those folks who aren’t used to snow. Here in Boston, driving in snow is second nature.
Krystle
Oh, I bet. You could teach us a thing or two!