What equipment should you have in the car at winter season?

Prepare for the winter months and equip your car for the winter season

When the autumn and winter months are literally storming ahead, it is important to have prepared well in advance. A simple check and complement of both company- and private vehicles can make a big difference the day you stand at the roadside buried in snow and darkness. Here is a list of our best tips for preparing yourself and your car for the winter season.

What equipment should you have in the car at winter?

• Emergency lights & warning triangle
  • At a sudden stop, or if you reach someone else in the need of help at the road, your first focus should always be safety and how to minimize the risk of consequential accidents. Put on the hazard lights, use a high-visibility vest, and place a warning triangle on a distance allowing other road users to react and stop if needed. If possible, enhance the visibility with an emergency light that you can either put on the ground or attach to the car/trailer.

• High visibility vest
  • Always have a reflective vest (high visibility vest) easily accessible from all seats in the vehicle. A reflective vest for each person in the car is a cheap life-insurance. You all may be forced to get out on the road, or preferably to the roadside. The reflective vest should always be carried at all times when leaving the car with other road users close by. Being discovered at 20 meters or 120+ meters makes a life-saving difference!
• Warm clothes and high-duty gloves
  • The heat quickly leaves the body without warm clothes. Preferably have waterproof & windproof both in terms of clothing selection and storage of the clothes in the car.
• The number to road assistance
  • Is road assistance included in the insurance, or is it included when servicing the car? If so, have the number as a contact on your phone so you don´t have to search for it when you are stressed. If possible, have the number to your road assistance close at hand from the driver’s seat, available if someone beside you should need to reach out, or if your phone does not work.
• Washer fluid
  • NOTE: Store the washer fluid in its container, not in the trunk. Make sure that the washer fluid container is filled, but keep in mind that the liquid is highly flammable and therefore it is not recommended to drive your vehicle with a container of washer fluid in the luggage compartment.
• Flashlight
  • Have a flashlight close at hand from the driver’s seat to be able to see better in the winter darkness. Preferably you should buy a flashlight with a built-in glass hammer (emergency hammer) and if possible, a flashlight with hazardous light and a belt knife. Then you always have a emergency-tool close at hand.
• 12V charger for the phone & / or power bank
  • Many of us have been in a situation where the phone dies in a bad situation because of battery loss. Avoid many of the situations with a 12-volt charger and/or with a power bank.

• Fire extinguisher
  • Keep in mind that a loose fire extinguisher could cause major damage in case of a crash. If possible, buy a small and flexible extinguisher that you can have easily attached to e.g. the glove compartment. Preferable, buy a decontamination-free fire-extinguisher that have the same capacity as the larger and heavier ones.

• Snow scraper and a brush for snow and slush
  • Remember that all snow on a vehicle is required to be removed before you start to drive. Removing only the snow on the windshield or the hood is an unpleasant way to cause an accident or getting fined.

• Shovel
  • A shovel can be to good use if needed to dig yourself from a snowbank or to be able to chop ice from the road. But remember, if you have a shovel in the trunk, secure it properly! Otherwise, it is better to go without.

• Towrope / Towline / Tow-strap
  • If you asses it necessary to quickly retrieve a vehicle that is stuck. Always be aware that the procedure can be a risky moment in itself since the forces often is immense. If possible, and the vehicle in question is not placed dangerous, we recommend that you call the emergency service and let them handle the situation.

• Straps / Securing cargo
  • Always make sure that you secure all cargo and any tools! All items you carry with you in the vehicle must be properly secured so that they don’t run the risk of injuring anyone in the vehicle in the event of a crash or loss of control.

• Good winter tires!
  • To avoid wintertime accidents, you must have good winter tires. Read more about what to consider when it comes to winter tires in our previous article:

• Bonus tip
  • Have you gotten stuck in the terrain or snow? The floor mats can be used as anti-slip mats so you don’t have to dig out gravel or other materials for traction. Slide the floor mats in as far under the wheels as possible and try to drive with a gently throttle.

Does your organization need help to equip the company’s cars for the winter season? Call us at +468-622 57 00 /  Or email to: info@safeatwork.nu

Refresh the knowledge with driver training in slippery conditions

Do not forget to prepare yourself or your colleagues for winter driving as well. Increase the safety through advanced training in driving on slippery surfaces. If you or the drivers of your organization regularly drive´s vehicles in slippery surfaces, the company is responsible for the cost of any accident. The cost of a safety driving course requires about 4 hours and gives your organization the confidence that the driver training provided does fulfill the requirements of the Swedish Work Environment Authority.

Read more about road safety training for companies

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