Just in case you're going someplace cold and snowy for Spring Break, here are some car care tips from Alice to help you cope with driving in any weather.

Whether you are a freshman who just convinced mom and dad to let you bring a car to campus, or a senior who has been revving the engine for all four years, it is important to remember the winter safety rules and car maintenance tips that will keep you rolling in Ithaca. Taking care of a car in the winter can be a lot of work, but preparing for the cold and snowy months in advance can save a lot of time and hassle  later on when the temperatures drops. Even  if you think you already know how to manage your vehicle in the snow, you probably don’t know it all. And if you know absolutely nothing — wake up Californians and Floridians — then you will definitely do well to take note of these car maintenance tips.

The first rule of thumb for almost anything — be prepared well in advance (yes, including prelims). Ensuring your safety on the road begins long before the black ice accumulates. Ithaca’s Autozone sales manager, Joshua Dickenson explained, “You are going to want to make sure that you do a thorough look-over of the vehicle.” Such visual examinations are necessary not only during the winter months, but also — more importantly — before the season begins.

While it may seem simple, one of the most basic necessities for any vehicle is antifreeze. Fortunately, according to  Dickenson, “Usually in every vehicle there is a temperature sensor that will detect if there is a problem with your antifreeze level, so if you have your car serviced regularly you shouldn’t have to worry about it.” Glad that is taken care of.Stuck in the Snow: - By: Beth Spergel

So what are the most common mistakes for drivers in the snow? People do not realize the significance of wiper blades, according to Dickenson. While the windshield scraper is an obvious necessity in order to remove ice from the windows so that you can see outside when you get in the car, the need for wiper blades is not as glaringly obvious until you have started driving. When it starts to snow, functioning wiper blades are absolutely essential. Dickenson warned, “People don’t ever use their wiper blades until it snows and then they realize [the wipers] should have been replaced long ago. Rain rolls off, but when snow hits the windshield, it sticks and bunches up.” So, make sure your wipers are in good condition.

Dickenson detailed some of the other items that should be at the top of every wintertime car maintenance list: “Make sure your tires are safe for the roads we have here — you may want to have studded snow tires or at least really aggressive tires if they don’t have studs. Check your breaking systems; with the snow there is a lot of stopping and starting.”

He continued, “Check your fluids — you need lots of washer fluid because of all the salt on the road. Check your headlights — are they bright enough when it snows outside, will you be able to see clearly?”

Headlights are definitely a critical component for driving in the snow. Peter Jung ’13 knows this firsthand, from his experience driving his car up to Cornell from Texas. After he drove back to Cornell’s campus at the beginning of January, amidst a blizzard along the East Coast, he noted, “When I turned on the high beams, it looked like I was going light speed in the Millennium Falcon ... seriously, the snow was quite a problem for visibility.” Driving with your high beams in a severe snowstorm is not a good idea.

Another one of the major issues Jung has dealt with in the snow is the slippage in parking lots. Dickenson, explaining the cause, said, “When wheels have been in the same place for a long time, parking spaces accumulate ice and snow which can be a problem. When you finally try to back out of a parking spot you can slip pretty bad or not make it out.”

Many students may face this problem if they leave their car parked in one spot in the snow for an extended period of time. Cornell Transportation Services Assistant Director for Public Information David Lieb ’89, said, “[The University] is very content to have the resident students leave their cars parked for extended periods of time.” Interestingly, he said only 96 freshmen chose to buy a permit this year. This is perhaps good news, as it equates to fewer inexperienced drivers on the road. There are 1,490 student parking permits total — which means there are quite a few students sporting a vehicle in Ithaca. As far as safety tips for dealing with cars in the winter, Lieb advised, “Keep a blanket and water in the car, just in case of a winter emergency.”

Even though leaving a car parked in the snow can be a hassle, we all know that the most dangerous aspects of winter weather are when we are on the move. The icy and snowy roads can be hazardous, to say the least. Meagan Tatum ’12 remembering last winter at Cornell, said, “[I] was driving in rough conditions, tapped on the breaks a little bit and the tires swerved.” Since this frightening experience, Tatum said she tells other Cornellians, “If you are driving in fresh, soft snow, you are either going to want four-wheel drive or snow tires. They are a must.”

Kelly Murphy ’12, another student with a car on campus, has had some practice driving in the snow before coming to Cornell, but she still had an incident earlier this year where she “fishtailed and skidded a bit.” Even for experienced drivers, the winter weather here is no easy feat. Murphy knows how to take care of her vehicle. She noted, “I just have to get a car wash every other week to keep the salt off because otherwise it will destroy the bottom of my car by corroding the metal.” A piece of advice — for both pedestrians and drivers — Murphy emphasized was, “You learn to stomp your shoes before you get in the car, because otherwise the snow will melt in your car and create mildew.” Simple, but an important tip to keep the inside of your car problem free.

Like the professional at Autozone, Dickenson, said about winter car safety, “It all boils down to, do you feel safe on the road? And if other people on the road can see you.” Let’s sure hope we can all see out our windshields, so we're ready to spot potential hazards and look out for our fellow Cornellians — and for Californians.

So don’t wait until you have your own encounter with any icy or snowy road. Take note in advance of the equipment and car maintenance musts that will keep you safe all through the winter. The frosted Ithaca scenery is incredible, and with proper car maintenance as a high priority, we can make sure that the snow in Ithaca remains a positive experience. Those without cars, don’t forget to thank your drivers for the ride that kept you out of the blizzard conditions. Hey, while I love the winter wonderland, I am definitely "ANTI-freezing" in Ithaca, too.  RLD