5 Car Mistakes Illinois Drivers Must Avoid This Winter

Bitter cold and more snow is about to descend upon Illinois, so I think we all need a reminder NOT to do these 5 things with our cars this winter.

Illinois Winter Predictions

The calendar may say it's not winter yet, but Mother Nature begs to differ right now in Illinois. Between the near record-breaking snow totals we saw Thanksgiving weekend to the below zero temperatures coming the next few days, it straight up feels like the dead of winter right now, and many people are already over it.

The Old Farmers' Almanac predicted back in September that winter in Illinois would be "milder", but mid to late November, all of December, and early January would be the snowiest periods. The 60-day extended forecast for December and January seems to agree.

All that being said, a lot of winter driving remains ahead of us, and there are some important safety reminders we all need to see.

5 Mistakes Illinois Drivers Make Each Winter

Driving in snow and ice is the biggest thing I hate about winter in Illinois, and I must admit I have been guilty of making some of these mistakes at least 10 times...each winter.

1. Using windshield wipers to brush away large amounts of snow. Clearing snow and scraping ice from your car sucks, and letting your windshield wipers do the job instead is very appealing when you're in a hurry, but don't do it! The wiper motors aren't designed to work against a lot of weight, and doing so can strip the gears.

2. Pulling your wipers up so they don't freeze to your windshield. While unthawing frozen wipers is a dauting task, having them ripped off or damaged by winds they are not designed to withstand is worse.

3. Not removing ALL the snow from our car before driving. As a short person who cannot reach the top of her car, I have driven away with a snow mattress on top of it more times than I care to admit. FYI, it's illegal to do that in Illinois, not to mention dangerous for other drivers.

4. Pouring boiling water on an icy windshield. I have never personally done this, but I've often thought about it, and I see people do it often. I've also seen people's windshields crack from the extreme temperature difference. Don't be like them.

5. Leaving your car running while unattended. No one wants to get into a freezing car, so many people start their car and let it warm up before driving. Letting a car idle unattended is against the law in Illinois if it is unlocked with keys in the ignition. Remote starts that leave the car locked are an exception to the rule.

I hope these reminders help surviving the next few months a little easier for everyone. Be safe out there!