Is Your Car Ready for Winter Driving in Washington State?

Now that it's the winter season, it's time for the snow to fall and the ice to coat our city streets and highways. Is your vehicle prepared for this winter? The Washington State Department of Transportation has some helpful tips to keep in mind.

Here are a few things you should do.

• Clear off all your windows of frost or snow before driving.
• Have a good set of window wipers. Replace them if necessary.
• Make sure your tires are inflated properly.
• Drive the conditions. Even if you're driving a four-wheel-drive rig or have the best snow tires ever, you're not invincible.

It's also very important to keep prepared inside your car, especially traveling over the passes. Make sure you always have bottled water, jumper cables, chains (if needed), a scraper or shovel, and a change of clothes and blankets. Wouldn't hurt to have some non-perishable food in your car, too, like granola bars.

Have you ever been trapped on the passes? I hope it never happens to me.