The winter weather can make driving difficult to say the least. The icy roads, heavy snow and slush can make getting to work or school dangerous, so we do our best to drive carefully and focus our full attention onto the road. Still, there are some winter road hazards that are much more challenging to control, including other drivers on the road and the deluge of road debris that ends up on our cars.
During winter, keeping our cars clean may seem like a distant memory, but this bit of maintenance is still important. The slush, ice, snow, and road salt can not only damage our car’s finish, but it can make driving even more difficult. By covering our lights, tyres, and windscreen, the element can create unsafe driving conditions right on our cars. This is why it is still important that we wash our cars during winter and do our best to keep them as clean as possible.
With that being said, we are going to take a look at some reasons to wash your car in the winter:
Road Salt- road salt and other ice melting chemicals which are used on many roadways can cause damage to your car’s finish and cause oxidation to form prematurely. Road salt is extremely corrosive, and it can leave your nice, new car looking older fast.
Moisture In The Air- the additional moisture present in the air during winter can cause build-up and damage your paint. Washing your car, including the undercarriage, is important to prevent rust and paint damage.
Visibility- not only does winter make the roads slippery, but it can also reduce your visibility. Snow and ice can accumulate on your mirrors, headlamps and windscreen making it difficult to see the road ahead of you.
Tyre Grip- we depend on our tyres to get us where we need to go regardless of the weather and road conditions. In some areas, road salt or sand is used to provide traction on especially snowy or icy days. However, this can build up over time on your wheels and in the tread of your tyres causing reduced traction or wheel damage. Be sure to wash and winter build-up off of your wheels and tyres every time you wash your car as this will help improve traction and increase your safety.
Contact Nationwide Vehicle Rentals
To learn more winter driving safety tips/advice, contact Nationwide Vehicle Rentals today and select from a wide range of late model cars, vans and more!
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