The arrival of frigid temperatures in the borough mean that car owners should make sure their vehicles are ready to cruise in the cold.

The bitter blast of weather could make it tough for vehicles to start. That's why Robert Sinclair, a manager with AAA, says the No. 1 tip he gives drivers is to check their batteries.

It's as simple as opening your hood and making sure the terminals are clean.

Sinclair says the mild weather so far this season means many cars haven't had their annual pre-winter checkup. To avoid the headaches of dead batteries and flat tires, he suggests drivers take a quick look for themselves.

Sinclair says it's a good idea to check your battery, especially if its 3 years old or more. He says even a good battery can lose 50 percent of its power when the temperatures drop to 0.

And as for tires, he says it's critical to check the tire pressure.

Last year, AAA performed 32 million emergency road service calls due to flat tires and dead batteries.