Windshield Wipers and Winter Driving Safety

The first ever National Check Your Wipers Day is Nov. 16, 2021, and a good reminder to check your windshield wipers to ensure the best visibility during holiday road trips and winter snow and sleet.

According to the U.S. Department of Transportation, 24% of accidents are weather-related. Some of those accidents, for sure, were caused by poor visibility related to worn out wiper blades.

National Check Your Wipers Day is being promoted by Michelin Wiper Blades, following a survey which found that 92% of drivers agree that poor wiper blades can affect their driving ability.

However, 90% of drivers do not plan the time to check their wipers properly and more than 55% do not know how to check their wiper blades properly.

Standard recommendations suggest that drivers change wiper blades every six to 12 months, depending on where you live and how often you drive and use the wipers. Simply, blades wear out, just like tires, which – of course – Michelin also makes.

Wiper blades can cost less than $10, so its inexpensive insurance for your winter car care routine.

“The change of seasons and start of holiday travel is the perfect time for drivers to start thinking about the condition of their vehicle’s wiper blades,” said Tom Jupena, director of brand licensing for Michelin North America, Inc.

“We are proud to declare an annual National Check Your Wipers Day to educate and remind drivers and their families to be prepared for weather on the road and be ready with optimal driving visibility.”

Michelin also is encouraging us to pay attention to our wipers with a contest that includes free prizes each week, and a grand prize trip to my hometown.

Chance to Win a Trip to NYC

Note – this article is from 2021.

The contest is no longer in effect.

To celebrate National Check Your Wipers Day in 2021, drivers can enter for a chance to win a New York City experience and more than 25 additional prizes each week in November.

They can also sign up for the MICHELIN Wiper Blades Text to Fit program, which helps people find the correct wipers for their vehicle and install them properly.

One Grand Prize winner will receive a trip for two to New York City (airfare included) that includes a $2000 hotel experience and VIP membership from Tablet Hotels (the hotel experts at the MICHELIN® Guide) estimated at a two 2-night hotel stay, dinner for two (2) at a MICHELIN Guide Star Restaurant, dinner for two (2) at MICHELIN Bib Gourmand Restaurant and two (2) sets of MICHELIN Wiper Blades.

Five (5) weekly winners will receive one (1) set of MICHELIN® Wiper Blades each week of the sweepstakes, two (2) weekly winners will receive a MICHELIN® Lifestyle prize pack and one (1) set of MICHELIN® Wiper blades each week of the sweepstakes.

How to enter:

1. Log in at www.wipersday.com to unlock your first official entry.

2. To submit your first entry, check your wiper size via SMS to get your SECRET CODE and participate in The Sweepstakes.

3. Once your SECRET CODE is in, you will unlock new ways to enter. The more entries, the more chances to win!

For more information on Michelin Wiper Blades, visit https://us.michelin-lifestyle.com/en/promotions/wiper-blades.

ecoXplorer Evelyn Kanter is an award-winning journalist with 25+ years of experience as a newspaper and magazine writer, radio & TV news producer & reporter, and author of guidebooks and smartphone apps – all focusing on travel, automotive, the environment and your rights as a consumer.