Winter Driving Means Safe Driving

Make a Car Maintenance Checklist

Navigating sheets of ice and hills of snow requires top performance from your car. Give your car the attention it needs so it will come through for you when the mercury begins to drop. Here are a few car maintenance must-dos to keep your vehicle in tip-top shape:

1. Check the battery, lights, antifreeze, heater/defroster, belts, hoses, filters, oil, wipers and brakes.
2. Carry the basics-an ice scraper, a snowbrush, a small shovel, tow chains and jumper cables-in your car.
3. Also add a breakdown-kit that includes a blanket, gloves, boots, warm clothes, a flashlight, food, water, a first aid kit, extra batteries, road flares and emergency cash to your supplies.
4. Add chains to your tires if necessary.

If you want to learn more about winter car maintenance, Allstate offers several no-brainer maintenance tips for keeping your car running smoothly, no matter the season.

Keep Your Eyes On The Road

It's also important to know what's true and what's false when it comes to safe driving in bad weather. For example, did you know that using cruise control during rainy or icy conditions does more harm than good? Allstate's Johnny Nevada can help clear up this and other myths when it comes to winter driving and car maintenance.

Here are a few additional winter safe driving tips that will help you stay in control on the darkest and dreariest days and nights:

• Keep your gas tank at least half full to avoid a gas line freeze-up.
• Press the gas pedal slowly when accelerating to regain traction and avoid skids.
• Take your time breaking for a stoplight-it takes longer to slow down on icy roads.
• Don't apply extra gas on snow-covered roads-for instance when going up a hill-it will just make your wheels spin.

Update Your Coverage

Even the best preparations can't stop car accidents from happening-especially in the hazardous winter driving months. To stay protected from what Old Man Winter has in store, be sure that you have the proper car insurance coverage for your car.

Allstate has a wide range of car insurance options to fit your needs, including:

• Liability coverage: Helps protect you from liability from damage you could do to others or to property in an accident. Some level of liability coverage is required in each state.
• Collision coverage: Typically pays for damages to your auto from accidents involving other cars or objects.
• Comprehensive coverage: Helps pay for damages on covered costs to your auto that aren't caused by a collision, such as weather damage or theft.

Car insurance requirements may vary by state, so be sure to know the auto insurance coverage laws for your area.

These tips will help you stay safe on winter roads-and could help you save you money in the long run. Safe drivers can save 45 percent or more on their car insurance with Allstate. And, with Your Choice Auto®, for every six months of accident-free driving, you can earn a Safe Driving Bonus® check for up to 5 percent of your premium.

For more information about how to protect yourself on the road, find an agent near you, call 1-866-621-6900 or go online to get a no-obligation quote today.