Tesla has become one of the dominant EV companies anywhere in the world and leads the market in cars delivered. Driving around the United States during the exceedingly cold winter months comes with a range of challenges for even the most experienced of drivers. Thankfully for Tesla owners, the company has a few safety tips for anyone making a trip during the winter months, so be sure to take note of the essential safety tips from Tesla if you and your loved ones are planning a long trip this winter.
Follow these simple safety tips from Tesla to ensure a safe drive this winter
As anyone who has driven a car during the exceedingly cold winter months in the US knows, there are a multitude of dangers that drivers need to be aware of. Driving on its own is a dangerous task, even in the best conditions, but add to that the winter freeze, and driving can become a task too dangerous for even the most seasoned of drivers.
For Model S owners, the first thing to consider doing is to set your door handles to automatically open when approaching the driver’s side door with the key in hand. This can save a whole lot of heartache as the handles often freeze during winter.
Another measure that could save drivers some woes is to activate climate settings in the Tesla app well before entering the vehicle. Tesla has noted that drivers may want to warm up the vehicle anywhere up to 40 minutes before entering the vehicle.
Here are a few more notable safety tips from Tesla for Model S owners
Preconditioning the temperature of the Model S is a great start, but if you or a loved one is planning a long trip, you may want to ensure that the tires are the correct version for winter driving, and if not, you can order winter tires from the official Tesla website or your local dealership.
Tesla recommends several other winter driving safety tips
Removing any excess snow and ice from the windshields is a great way to ensure acceptable visibility. Ice forming on the exterior of the car not only makes it harder to see, but also increases the weight of the vehicle, so be sure to de-ice your windshield before heading off.
Another measure to consider for Model S drivers is to keep warm and toasty while driving by keeping the seat warmers on while driving. Scheduling a charging session ahead of time can ensure you won’t run out of juice halfway to your destination.
While planning your next charging session, if the charging port latch has frozen over, you can initiate the charge port heater via the mobile app, which also includes all the relevant climate control measures that could save you from a very cold drive in your Model S.
One last measure that may assist the ambitious winter driver would be to ensure that tire chains are safely stored in the vehicle, just in case. While some US states have implemented laws to ensure the safety of drivers while driving on icy and snow-covered roads, Tesla is urging drivers to refer to their owner’s manual for additional safety tips.
Be sure to consult your Model S owner’s manual before setting off
Amid the litany of safety tips from the coldest states in the US, Tesla owners are perfectly positioned to deal with the exceedingly dangerous task of driving on snow-covered roads by spending some time consulting the owner’s manual to ensure all the relevant safety measures have been met. Opening the Tesla app on your phone allows full control of the features and interior components of your Tesla, so be sure to take the time to familiarize yourself with all the amazing features that may make driving this winter that little bit safer.
