How to Prepare your Car for Driving in the Snow - What you Need to Survive if you get Stuck
Posted: Friday, January 08, 2010
by Connor Davidson
My Books and Articles (under construction)
As I sit at my desk and begin to write, this the country is under a blanket of snow. The police have issued a notice telling us not to travel unless it is absolutely necessary. The snow has had its usual effect of causing a multitude of problems .
The message is clear: don't drive unless you have to. This article is going to deal with what you should do in the event that you do have to travel.
In the event of getting stuck in the snow, the first thing you need to do is try and get unstuck. Should you be unable to free yourself the next thing you should do is phone the police to get help - not 999 or 911. However, you will have to wait a while, since they are very busy. The last thing you do is abandon your car - providing your not at risk of being hit by another vehicle. Unless you've got stuck on the turn in to a motor-way service station you should not walk anywhere. You are safer in your car than walking miles and miles in the freezing cold.
So, just in case you get stuck here is what you should take:
• Food
You want to take enough food for a whole day. You should pack your car with non-perishables so that you can just leave them there until you need them.
• Shovel
You can buy shovels specifically for shoveling snow. You should also take a spade to break through any ice.
• A Bit of Carpet
When you're stuck on snow you can use a bit of carpet to help you get out. What you do is place a bit of carpet in-front of a wheel and then drive onto it. This should help you get free.
• A Sleeping Bag
Sleeping bags are far more effective than blankets when in a car. Ideally, you should have a thermal sleeping bag with a rating of over -10.
• A Thick Coat, Warm Clothes and Water Proofs
• A Fully Charged Mobile Phone
Make sure you have the phone number of a break down service and the number of your local police authority in your contacts.
• Winter Tyres
They are quite expensive but are a great investment for anyone who travels often. In Germany it is a legal requirement that you put on winter tyres in winter.
When you have winter tyres, the chances of getting stuck will be greatly reduced and the extra grip they give should prevent skidding.
• Plenty of Fuel
Before you go out on your journey, ensure that you have a full tank. I would also advise that you also take a can or two just in case.
The extra fuel is not simply to prevent you from breaking down. If you get stuck it would be nice to have the heater on wouldn't it? But remember to ration your fuel because temperatures will drop considerably over night.
If you are going to put the heater on make sure that your exhaust is clear.
• A Bag of salt
Lay some salt over the area and given time the snow should melt.
• Book
You can technically survive without a book but it would be pretty boring. I'd shove something like War and Peace in the boot.
• Water
You're obviously going to need something to drink. Yes, you could drink snow, but when your sitting shivering in a cold car drinking frozen water is not advisable.
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Take ten minuets to pack your car properly and the hours waiting for help will be bearable. You'll not freeze, you'll not starve, you have a change to get free, you can get help and you may even be able to put the heater on - what more could you want? Apart from not getting stuck in the first place that is.
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Top-level comments on this article: (3 total)Good advice. As one who spent 10 winters living in Wyoming, hunting and fishing in remote areas, having seen a week where the highest high temp was negative 19F. Yes, be prepared.Please log in to respond to this comment.Thanks for the comment.Please log in to respond to this comment.
Great advice, Connor. Here in Texas it is now 17 degrees, and thankfully we do not have any snow. This is a great read.Please log in to respond to this comment.I was amazed when I found out there was snow in Texas.Thanks for the comment.Please log in to respond to this comment.
Hi Connor--You know that I live in the part of Ohio that gets this thing called Lake Effect snow--from the Great Lakes--we get killed and I'm used to tons of snow. But, I never heard of the carpet tip--also, you'd think I'd prepare for problems in the snow while driving. Well, I don't prepare anymore because it's so routine for me. Your article reminded me to start preparing again--thanks.StevePlease log in to respond to this comment.Thanks for the comment.Please log in to respond to this comment.
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