There are special winter windshield wipers that have a special cover over the tension arms of the wiper that reduce ice build up. Ice build up on the wipers can interfere with the wiping pressure of the blades. In addition to the vehicle being in proper operating condition, there are some items that should be carried in the vehicle which may be helpful in an emergency. Emergency items take on special significance during long winter driving trips. The traction aids can be used to improve traction on icy surfaces in and around the driving wheels.
Proper jump starting procedures are imperative or personal injury can result.
Consult the instructions that came with the cables or the vehicle owner's manual. Winter driving experts caution against the addition of weight in a vehicle for the purpose of improving traction. First, the weight must be close to the driving wheels, therefore on front wheel drive vehicles, any weight in the trunk would be useless for traction. Second, the weight must be secured to the vehicle so that it does not shift when cornering or braking. Thirdly, in a collision, unsecured weight can come forward to injure occupants.