There are aspects of winter that can be fun – snowmobiling, skiing, skating, snowball fights, building snowmen. Other aspects are less so.  So far, this is a tough winter in Northern Illinois.  Temperatures have dropped lower than is customary. Though the area hasn’t experienced one big blizzard yet, the accumulation of snow is still significant. And winter is still less than halfway through.

Shoveling is one pain in the neck wrought by winter that is shared by most in the area, especially when the snow is deep and wet.  Even with a snowblower, clearing snow from driveways and walkways is a struggle. For older residents of the region, the strain has the potential to bring on heart attacks.

Driving is another aspect of life that is affected by winter and all the more so with a winter such as this one. When it snows, drivers have to clear the snow off the vehicle before they drive. Some will merely clear the snow from the windows. It’s better, however, to clear the snow entirely off the car. Snow left on the top of the car and hood will blow onto the windows once the car is in motion.

Even if it doesn’t snow, there’s always that frost to scrape from the windows. Scraping the frost often takes more energy than clearing the snow from the car. A good ice scraper is essential.

Heavy snows can virtually bury a car. Drivers need to dig the car out of the snow before they can drive. Hopefully, they have a good shovel on hand for the job. If not, membership in a travelers’ club can offer assistance. Otherwise, such drivers are often at the mercy and good will of others.

Once the car is cleared of snow and the frost is scraped from the window, it’s time to start the car. The kind of bitter cold experienced here in Northern Illinois will test a car’s charging system. In fact, if the car isn’t running well in general, it may have trouble starting even if the charging system is otherwise up to the task. It’s a good idea to make sure the car is properly tuned, the oil is changed on schedule and the battery and charging system are in peak performance.

Once the car is cleared of snow, and the engine is running, it’s time to drive. Here, the challenges of winter continue. Do the defrosters work well enough to keep the window from icing over? Are the wiper blades in good shape and augmented by an adequate reservoir of wiper fluid? If the answer to any of these questions is “No” the ability to keep the windows clear is a problem once the car is set in motion.

Driving with partially impaired vision is an invitation to disaster. Will the driver see the car that has drifted into the same lane or will they have a head-on collision? Will the driver notice the pedestrian at the crosswalk who has stepped into the road?

Traction is another issue. Good tires will make a world of difference. Good all-weather tires are even better.

With good tires or bad, when the roads are slick with ice and/or snow, it’s a good idea to try not to do things suddenly. If a driver gives the car too much gas when pulling away from a stop they can cause the tires to lose traction and spin. The driver can lose control of the car. Traction is even more essential when it’s time to stop.

Depending on the speed a car is traveling, a sudden need to hit the brakes hard can send it sliding for a considerable distance. And, when the car is sliding, steering is all but lost. A driver can slam into another car, the afore-mentioned pedestrian or even into a tree. Along with good tires, it’s also essential to have good brakes.

Years ago, drivers were taught to pump the brakes when stopping. Most cars these days, however, have anti-lock brakes that automatically pump and do so far more efficiently than a driver can do manually.

Finally, it’s a good idea not to drive too fast for conditions and to keep a safe distance between vehicles. If the vehicle in front has to stop suddenly, a driver too close behind will have a difficult time stopping in time as well.

A good auto repair shop, such as Performance Unlimited in Ringwood, will help drivers keep their vehicles in tip-top condition for winter driving. Using good common sense will driving will further help to keep people safe. Together, folks can spend more time snowmobiling, skiing, skating and throwing snow balls, at least until this winter is finally over.