Women and Safe Winter Driving

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Dec 28, 1999

For half of the world, it's that time of year again when the weather gets cold and many of us wish we were living in the other half of the world (or at least enjoying their weather).

Snow can be fun for the kids (and sometimes the adults, too) but it also can be very dangerous if you are on the road. If your car breaks down during the winter, not only do you have to worry about your car but you must also think about how the weather is going to affect you and your passengers.

Men always joke that women don't know anything about cars. I'll fully admit that I don't know that much about my car, but I try to educate myself whenever I have the chance. Every woman should do that! Even if it's just to find out the basic information about your car, it is something you should know.

I used to work in the Emergency Road Service department of the local AAA chapter. We're opened 24 hours a day, 7 days a week and are constantly hearing stories about people getting stranded on the road. What amazed me most is what people don't know about their car. Typically, women drivers knew the least information about their cars. Believe me, I hate to add to the stereotype, but that's just how things were.

Some basic facts you should know about your car

Year it was manufactured
Make (Honda, Toyota, Dodge, Ford, etc.)
Model (Civic, Tercel, Daytona, Taurus, etc.)
Color (yes, some people don't know the color of their car)
Drive type (front wheel, rear wheel, or all-wheel)

All of these things can be found in the manual for your car. Or by just taking the time to LOOK at your car and see what you have spent so much money on.

Now that you know what type of car you are driving, learn a little bit about what happens under the hood to make your car go. Just because you are a woman, doesn't mean you can't learn how to do basic maintenance on your automobile. Some people aren't the best teachers, so you may do best if you keep your eyes open for learning situations.

The next time you take your car into the shop, ask your mechanic to explain what is being done to your car. Learn what the various parts of your engine are called. If you have a really patient mechanic, maybe you can be taught how to check the oil or change a tire. Sometimes family members or friends aren't the best people to learn from. That's when it's a good time to turn to a professional for help.

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