Must-Have Winter Driving Safety Products to Help Keep Employees Safe

Stay safer on the road

The winter months might be great for your business, but they can quickly wear out the vehicles and drivers you rely on. According to a decade-long study by the Federal Highway Administration, snow and ice account for 11% of all vehicle crashes in the United States. Preparing your commercial fleet for these snowy and icy conditions won’t just keep your vehicles running smoothly—they’ll protect your drivers from potential injury as they get the job done. The following winter driving safety products can help. 

Must-have winter driving safety products

Winter tires & tire chains

As temperatures drop, your car tires start to harden and become less grippy, making driving in snowy or icy conditions more dangerous. That’s why one of the most critical winter weather driving tips is swapping out summer road tires for a different set before it gets too cold.

The type of tire you’ll want to use will depend on a variety of factors, though. For example, if your employees primarily drive on city streets that are regularly de-iced, you may be able to get away with using all-weather tires. These tires are built to handle moderate weather conditions throughout the year, from hot summers to chilly winters, and are solid all-rounders that don’t need to be swapped out as conditions change. 

If it snows a lot, or your employees drive over mountains or need to go off-road, you’ll likely want to switch to winter tires. This option uses rubber that is less likely to solidify at colder temperatures. These tires also contain unique tread patterns that dig into and grip the ground below the snow, making them ideal for maneuvering through conditions that would trip up other types of tires. 

If you decide to use winter tires, remember to switch back to summer tires once the weather warms up again—the warm weather will make the rubber on winter tires too soft and cause it to degrade much more rapidly.

For especially heavy snow, you may need to install tire chains, which wrap around each tire to provide additional traction. 

Tire chains are less expensive than winter tires, but require special care. They need to be fitted to your vehicle’s wheel size because they won’t work correctly if they’re too loose. Tire chains should only be used on snowy or icy roads—driving over smooth surfaces may cause additional damage to your tires, your vehicle and the road itself. If you plan on using chains, consider providing winter driving safety tips for employees and teach them how to properly install, inspect and use their chains before sending drivers out on the road. Laws regarding chain usage—including when they can be used or if they can be used at all—vary from state to state, so check with your local Department of Transportation.

A fully stocked car winter survival kit

Snowstorms and cold weather can easily knock out a vehicle, leaving your employees stranded. Including a car winter survival kit in each of your business’s vehicles will ensure that drivers have the tools they need to make quick repairs and get back on the road or hold out for additional assistance if they’re unable to do so.

Whether you’re experiencing a light dusting of snow or a week-long blizzard, consider adding some or all of the following safety gear to your commercial fleet to help keep your drivers safe during an emergency.

• A bag of sand or cat litter to provide additional traction for vehicles stuck in snow or ice

• A flashlight

• Reflective triangles or road flares to alert other drivers

• Blankets to keep warm

• Spare battery packs and USB cables to keep phones charged

• Non-perishable food and water

• First aid kits

• Matches

• Basic car maintenance tools, like a jack, a tire iron, air gauges and jumper cables

• A spare tire

• A hand crank radio to tune into emergency broadcasts

• A compass and map to use in case the phone battery dies or GPS is unavailable

• De-icing gear, like ice scrapers, shovels and brooms

Gear to maintain vehicle performance

Don’t forget to take care of the rest of the car, too. Check each of the following before extreme temperatures hit.

Antifreeze. Your vehicle’s engine relies on fluid to keep it from overheating. Without it, the engine will run too hot and eventually break. As the temperature reaches freezing, the fluid inside your engine will freeze as well—and when ice expands, it can cause your engine to burst. 

Adding antifreeze lowers the freezing point while simultaneously increasing the boiling point of your engine fluid, helping to better regulate its temperature under various weather conditions. 

When picking out antifreeze, choose an option that matches the vehicle your employees drive. Some are rated for all vehicles, while others are made specifically for larger vehicles, like trucks and RVs. Also, take note of the mixture and whether it’s a pre-mixed solution or a concentrate—you may need to add water for it to be most effective, so be sure to follow the instructions listed on the packaging.

Winter windshield washer fluid. Like engine fluid, the fluid you use to wash your windshield will also freeze at lower temperatures. All-weather windshield washer fluid usually begins to freeze at the standard 32°F, so you may need to replace it with specially rated winter fluid, depending on how cold it gets. Some winter windshield washer fluids have freezing points as low as -30°F and will even de-ice your windshield when used, melting the ice that’s currently there and preventing new ice from forming.

Engine block heater. If temperatures near you regularly drop below freezing most winter nights, you might need an engine block heater. This tool preheats your engine and motor oil before you start the car, allowing it to turn over more consistently, reducing the fuel needed to reach operating temperatures and improving vehicle lifespan. 

Some cars have block heaters built in directly from the factory, while those that don’t will need an external heater plugged into an energy source to warm the engine. These come in a variety of forms, like engine plugs that heat coolant directly, electric blankets to be placed over the engine, warm magnets to attach to the oil pan, or even rods designed to fit into the engine’s dipstick tube. Direct options are more effective at rapid heating than external tools but require more complex installations. 

Whatever you choose, you don’t need to run an engine block heater overnight—simply activate it a few hours before your drivers begin their shift, and they’ll be ready to go.

Walmart Business can keep your drivers warm & safe 

Need to prep your vehicles and drivers for the cold months ahead? Walmart Business can help you stock up on tires, antifreeze and more and get them delivered right to your doorstep when they’re needed most. Sign up for a free account today, and you’ll get free shipping on orders over $35.¹

Already have an account? Unlock even more benefits by upgrading to Walmart Business+. Your organization could save over $500/year while enjoying member benefits you won’t find anywhere else.²

¹ Excludes most Marketplace items, freight and certain location surcharges.

² Savings based on 1 free $35+ delivery order vs. $9.95 fee and 1 free shipping order under $35 vs. $6.99 fee biweekly, plus 2% Walmart Business Rewards on monthly order >$250 (average value of $400).