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What southerners need to know about driving in the snow

Grab these essential winter driving tips for southerners and winter car survival kit info. You won’t need it much down south, but you need to be ready.

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Remember a few years ago when Atlanta came to a stand still and cars were stranded all over the Interstates because of an inch of snow? People sure like to use that to make fun of southerners and snow, don’t they?

While driving to wrestling practice the other night, I looked at my thermometer in my car and it said 36F. That’s cold for 5:30 pm in North Carolina!

Then I got thinking, “Do I have everything I need in my car in case I have an emergency?”.  When I was college I had an old family friend tell me that I should alway bring my coat in the car.  

Many times I would just jump in and never bring it because I wasn’t planning on being outside, just going from building to building.  

He told me I could have a flat. Well, driving back from school one day, I had a flat tire and I didn’t have my coat.  Even though I know how to change a tire, I had to call for help because it was FREEZING and even colder with all the cars driving by me.

Grab these essential winter driving tips for southerners and winter car survival kit info. You won't need it much down south, but you need to be ready.

Winter Driving Tips for Southerners

  • Prepare ahead of time and try to stay home.
  • Leave early so you’re not driving fast.
  • Avoid stopping on hills, going up or down.
  • Make sure you have your winter car survival kit (See below). 🙂
  • Make sure all car windows and roof are clear of snow before you drive.
  • Lift your wiper blades so they don’t freeze to your windshield.
  • Do NOT use your wiper fluid!! It will freeze to your windshield.
Grab these essential winter driving tips for southerners and winter car survival kit info. You won't need it much down south, but you need to be ready.

Winter Car Survival Kit

Now that I have kids, I try to be prepared. Here is a list of things I keep in my car during the winter months. Things can get bad pretty fast here and our weathermen never seem to get the forecast correct.

These are essential when taking a road trip or up to the mountains. Remember the mountains get snow more often!

Remember- We don’t really get snow here so I’m not traveling with shovels and gravel! 🙂  If you live in an area with snow, you will need additional supplies!!!

Belinda

Monday 25th of January 2016

Each person in our family has a "Cold Bag" in the car they drive (usually an old backpack). It must have an extra knit cap that covers at least ears, hoodie sweatshirt, sweatpants, extra socks, extra gloves, extra scarf, extra fleecy blanket, and anything else they want). This just stays in the vehicle from fall until spring. These are not fashionable clothes (just stay alive clothes) if you should break down! ~B

Holly

Monday 25th of January 2016

That's a great idea and so easy.