How To Survive A Snowstorm In Your Car

I t is quite scary to be stuck in your car during a snowstorm. It’s cold and dark, and things can escalate quickly. However, if you take precautions beforehand and are equipped with knowing what to do with your car during a snowstorm, then you should be fine.

It is better to stay indoors during a blizzard season, but not everyone can afford that luxury. So, make sure you stay calm and follow the instructions carefully.

Driving In Car During A Storm

It is strictly advised not to drive a car during a snowstorm, but let’s say you have an emergency— then here are a few precautions you must take.

1- Drive Slowly

If you are on the road during a snowstorm, then abandon your need to mobilize at a quick speed. Even if the roads look slightly wet, you slow down. In addition, thousands of car incidents take place during a snowstorm, so make sure you’re driving calculatedly. 

2- Shovel Before Ignition

Do not begin your journey before shoveling the ice from your car. Clean the whole car before igniting it because even if the ice on the car’s roof won’t cause you any perturbation, it might cause accidents for other cars.

3- Inform Someone Before Taking Off

Always inform someone beforehand when you are going out on a car trip during a storm. Let them know the route you’ll be pursuing and details about the destination. In case things go from bad to worse, someone will know where to send help.

4- Take Adequate Supplies

Take all the precautions before leaving. Make sure your phone is fully charged. Take your phone charger, a torch with batteries, and a first-aid kit along with you. You never know when things will go south during a snowstorm, so it’s best to stay well-equipped.

5- Avoid Skidding

Skidding is one of the worst nightmares of a driver during a blizzard. If your car begins to skid, remind yourself to stay calm, gently relax your foot off the gas pedal, and swiftly turn your wheels in the direction you’re aiming your car to go. Try not to pump the gas pedal while panicking, as it can make things go worse.

5- Make Frequent Stops

You can’t rush during a snowstorm, so don’t try it either. Make frequent stops to clean the windows and gauge the situation before moving on. But always remember, when you’re making a stop, keep your car’s headlights on to avoid other cars bumping into it.

Stuck Inside The Car

If you are stuck inside the car during a snowstorm, then take the following precautions.

1- Stay In The Car

Try not to leave your car because as scary as it is to sit in a car during a storm, it will be scarier out there. However, there are ways to maintain heat in the car to survive for hours until help arrives.

• Call the authorities right away to send help.
• Ignite your engine for ten minutes after every hour to maintain the heat.
• When running the engine, roll down your windows slightly to avoid carbon monoxide poisoning in the car.
• Switch on the dome light when the engine is on.
• Tie a bright-colored ribbon outside your car to attract help.
• Jam the rags in the door cracks to avoid cold hair entering the car.
• Close the curtains or binders to insulate your car.
• Clean the exhaust pipe regularly to avoid the risk of poisoning in the car.

2- Get Out Of The Car

If the gas or food runs out, or it gets unbearably cold in the car, then you can step outside the car during a snowstorm. But here are a couple of things you should take care of:

• Don’t abandon the car. Wherever you find the shelter, make sure that your car is not out of your sight. If the snow covers your entire car, then it might make it more difficult to recognize which one belongs to you.
• You need to protect yourself from the blizzard and must stay dry. 
• Keep your car’s hood up if the engine is not working. It is a symbol of needing help during a snowstorm.

It’s understandable to get winter jitters, but as long as you know what to do with your car during a snowstorm, you will be fine.

• This post is tagged in:

• driving
• winter
• car
• snow storm