Albertans not prepared for winter driving: AMA
Posted November 26, 2019 12:25 pm.
Last Updated November 26, 2019 12:37 pm.
This article is more than 5 years old.
CALGARY (660 NEWS) – Calgary is well into winter driving season but are we fully prepared?
The Alberta Motor Association (AMA) has released the findings of a new survey showing many Albertans are ill-prepared for winter especially when it comes to their vehicle’s battery.
The survey found around 38 per cent of drivers have either never had their battery tested, or waited until after the five-year mark.
“Batteries typically in this province will only last three to five years,” said Mark Whitehead with AMA. “At that three-year mark they want to be getting them tested, just to make sure that they’re going to have their vehicles start.”
Whitehead adds waiting until your battery fails might leave you stuck several hours at the side of the road hoping for a boost.
“Our call volumes can get really high in the wintertime and you could be waiting some time. Up to six hours or more.”
READ MORE: Leave space, adjust to winter conditions says AMA
The AMA says you should look out for signs of a weak battery including dim headlights, the vehicle is slow to turn over or the engine cranks but doesn’t start.
“The weak battery that got you by in the summer can’t turn over a cold engine in the winter. which is why it’s so important to get your battery tested and to plug in,” said Ryan Lamont, Manager of AMA Driver Education.
AMA recommends using a block heater if the temperature drops below minus 15 on top of regularly testing your battery.
On the positive side, the survey found 74 per cent of drivers keep an emergency kit in their vehicle while about 67 per cent swap to winter tires.
