How to Master Winter Driving like a Boss

When we refer to a person doing something “like a boss,” it’s not really a reference to his or her professional status. It means that the person took control of a situation, acted with supreme confidence and competence, and did so in a generally cool manner. Just plain owned it.

We do lots of things like a boss here at National Pen, and every once in a while we like to drop some knowledge to help our valued customers follow suit. Today’s gem? These winter road trip essentials and safety tips.

Winter Road Trip Essentials

Whether you’re hauling it in to work on a blustery morning or hauling a full station wagon to grandmother’s house, there are lots of pitfalls you need to avoid during a winter drive if you want to gain boss status.

Pack Snacks

This, to us, is a no-brainer. Who goes on a long drive without snacks? Frankly, we like to keep munchies in the car for even a short trip. Because snacks make everything better.

Make Sure Your Car is in Good Shape

So, perhaps this should come at the top of the list of winter road trip essentials…bosses though we are, we’re never quite sure when to de-prioritize snacks.

Anyway, one of the best winter road trip safety tips we can offer is to get your car ready for the weather before the weather hits. If you live in or travel to a place where rain, snow, or ice is likely to be in the forecast, do yourself a favor and make sure:

• Your tires are properly inflated and have enough tread to grip the road
• Your heater and window defroster work
• Your battery is in good working order
• Your headlights and taillights work
• Your windshield wiper blades are in good condition
• You have plenty of antifreeze, wiper fluid, oil, and gas

Put Together a Winter Car Safety Kit

While it’s important to focus on safe winter driving skills, the truth is that Jack Frost can mess with even the best and most well-equipped drivers. And a real boss is prepared to handle any situation with composure, style, and…snacks.

This is why you need to build a winter car safety kit for your boss self.

Or, if you already are the boss, why not help your employees tackle the woes of winter driving by imparting some of your winter road trip safety tips and giving them a safety kit? And it certainly won’t hurt if the items in said kit happen to sport your logo, like, for example:

• LED Flashlight Key Chain
• Power Grip Ice Scraper with Glove
• Water Resistant Fleece Picnic Blanket with Flap
• Auto Safety Kit

In addition to these items, your car emergency kit should contain:

• Warm clothes to change into
• Extra cell phone, charger, or phone battery
• Sand or kitty litter to help get stuck tires moving
• No, really—throw some protein bars or jerky in there
• Drinking water
• Medications you may need
• Shovel
• First aid kit

So, now that you know how to keep your car—and yourself—safe on wintry roads, we can officially bestow upon you the title of Boss. Unfortunately, since you’ve mastered our winter road trip essentials and safety tips, you can’t really use the weather as an excuse to ditch work on the next snow day. Because…