It’s a Winter Driving Emergency

Hello again, friends! Last time we talked about getting your vehicle ready for the winter and driving on ice and snow. If you haven’t read it, now’s a great time to do so. Go on, I’ll wait… Ready? Ok, we’re going to discuss what to do in an emergency which was the last tip last time. Now, every situation is different and what works for one might not work for another. These are just guidelines because as a veteran I like having a standard operating procedure for EVERYTHING, especially emergencies.

1. If you have a phone, and it works, call for help.
2. Stay with your vehicle. If you read the last blog post, there’ll be blankets, snacks and (hopefully) something to keep you occupied while you await a knight in shining armor on a white horse… or you know, the guy with a tow truck.
3. Put emergency markers on the antenna and windows and keep your overhead light on. This will make it easier for that knight in shining armor to see you. It’s tough to see through snow and ice. If your car’s lit up like a Christmas tree, it’s going to be a lot easier for people to see you.
4. Don’t run your car for long periods with the windows up or in an enclosed space. Dying of carbon monoxide probably wasn’t in your plans for the evening.
5. If you do have to run the car, make sure the exhaust pipe is cleared of snow and only run it occasionally. Basically, just enough to keep you from freezing to death. Hopefully the extra blankets, hats and gloves (and hand warmers) will help.
6. My last little tip is to stay calm. Use common sense and don’t panic. That’s how people get themselves into trouble. So, don’t do anything stupid and you’ll probably be fine.

The absolute best thing you can do about an emergency, is to not have one. Use some preventative measures like making sure your car is winter weather worthy and you’re all stocked up. If it’s not a life or death situation, try not to drive in bad weather. I don’t know about you, but I’d much rather be relaxing somewhere warm with a cup of hot tea than driving through a snowstorm. Drive safe out there!