Don’t Become a Statistic- Stay Safe While Driving This Winter
Chances are you watched the stranded motorists in Virginia last month and thought “That could have been me.”
Being stranded in your vehicle during severe winter storms can be a life-threatening situation.
The motorists in Virginia were stuck for nearly two days. Imagine 48 hours without food. Without gas. What if you rely on medication? What if you had no cell phone charger in your car? Worse still, what if your car became disabled and would not run?
Being prepared can make the difference between being uncomfortably inconvenienced or being seriously harmed. Not to sound alarmist, but you could die if the situation was bad enough.
In today’s article, we want to talk about what you should have in your vehicle in the winter months (The always talked about but rarely packed emergency bag) and what you can do to prevent finding yourself in this situation.
Winterize Your Vehicle
Unfortunately, too many people think winter prep means changing the tires and maybe the wiper blades.
There is much more that should be done to ensure that your vehicle doesn’t stop running when you least want it to.
- Have the coolant system checked and serviced according to the manufacturer’s directions. Cars can overheat no matter how cold it is outside, so leaks need to be repaired promptly. If you aren’t sure about when or what type of antifreeze you need, rely on the experts at Hong Kong Auto Service.
- Keep the gas tank as close to full as possible. You don’t have to fill up every day, but never let the tank go below half.
- Ensure your tires have good tread and are filled with the proper air pressure
- Have the windshield wiper fluid replaced with a winter blend
- Have the qualified mechanics at Hong Kong Auto Service inspect the heater, defrosting system, brakes, lights, emergency flashers, battery, oil, and anti-lock brake system
Doing a winter safety check and replacing any fluids necessary is fast and inexpensive. Tires can seem expensive, but they can save your life. How much is the life of your family worth?
Weather and Road Check
We become so accustomed to taking the same roads to and from work or school each day that we don’t usually think to check before we leave the house.
Virginia Senator Tim Kaine didn’t check before leaving his home in Virginia to drive to Washington, D.C. Had he checked road conditions before he left, he says he wouldn’t have gotten stuck on the highway with nothing but an orange to eat for 20 hours.
Always check the weather conditions where you are and what they are at your final destination. You should listen to the news before you leave the house and see if there are any travel or road advisories.
Most people like listening to music while they drive but listening to the news can give you valuable information and possibly give you enough time to get off the freeway before you are stuck on it.
What to Pack
Everyone talks about keeping an emergency bag in their cars but not many people do more than throw some granola bars in the glove box.
To be super comfortable, you should consider the following:
- Pack non-perishable foods, such as nuts, cookies, granola bars, dried fruit, cereal, and/or beef jerky
- Two insulated water bottles for each person in the car
- A cup or folding cup to melt snow for water if necessary
- Waterproof matches
- A first aid kit
- Baby wipes and rags
- Diapers if you have small children
- A few days’ worth of any necessary medications
- Books or small travel-sized games
- Phone charger (a crank charger can be invaluable)
- Hats, gloves, extra socks, scarves, and blankets (aluminum blankets are good but heavy blankets can be used to insulate the vehicle)
- Insulated hiking boots (if you need to leave your vehicle)
- Flares, a flashlight, extra batteries (or use a crank flashlight)
- Jumper cables or an external battery charger
- A brightly colored rag or scarf to tie to your vehicle to help it be noticed
- A battery-powered radio with extra batteries
- A basic car tool kit
- Tire chains or towing chains
- Ice scraper
- Cat litter
- Anti-gelling gas additive for diesel cars
- Toilet paper, a plastic bag, paper towels
- An empty gas can
- Duct tape
- Fix a Flat in a can
- Spare change and a bit of cash
You might think of other things that would benefit you (such as if you travel with your dog, you might bring an extra doggie coat, some dog food, and a blanket) but for most people, an emergency bag with these items should help keep everyone in your vehicle comfortable and safe.
Other Helpful Tips
If you should become stuck in snowy or icy conditions, there are a few things you can do, as well as avoid, to help keep you safe and warm.
- Exercise in the car. You can flap your arms, move your legs up and down, or jump in your seat to stay warm.
- Avoid going outside unless it is to retrieve snow to melt for water, clean the windows, or clear snow from the exhaust pipe.
- Turn your vehicle on for 10-15 minutes and run the heater on high, then turn it off to save fuel.
- If it is night or if it is very dark, you can leave your dome light on to help rescuers see your vehicle. It uses very, very little battery power.
- When traffic starts moving, leave a lot of room between cars
- Feel free to share your food and water, but keep in mind that you don’t know when help will arrive, so don’t give away everything.
At The End of the Day
No one ever thinks that they will become trapped in a situation like what happened in Virginia, but it can and does happen.
Better safe than sorry, as the saying goes. Better to pack that emergency bag and never use it than to have only an orange to eat!
Also, it’s not too late to have your car inspected and serviced for the winter.
Call us today for an appointment. The ASE-certified mechanics at Hong Kong Auto Service will be happy to let you know what your vehicle needs so you can drive with complete peace of mind, regardless of what old man winter can dish out.