The Car Safety Course: Winter Survival Manual

Ice, snow, freezing rain, hail, and even severe winter thunderstorms can make winter driving a hazardous and treacherous event. Drivers need to exercise an increased level of caution when driving in winter, even with no immediate threat of severe weather, because extreme temperatures can make roads icy and dangerous. Knowing what to expect from your car, the weather in your area, and being aware of your local police services and snow removal schedule, as well as understanding what to do in an emergency, will give drivers peace of mind when heading out the door this winter.

Driving in winter requires advanced driver and vehicle preparation. Preparedness begins long before the first snowfall of the season. Have a trusted mechanic check your vehicle’s major systems to ensure proper function before cold weather begins, to ensure your vehicle starts easily and runs well… even in extreme conditions. Winterize your car by purchasing and installing snow tires or traction tires; check your state’s laws regarding the use of tire chains and studded traction tires to make sure you comply with local requirements. Stock your vehicle with an emergency survival kit, with supplies to keep you and your passengers safe, dry, fed, hydrated, and warm. Carry extra supplies for your vehicle as well, such as extra tires or chains, because what might be a minor inconvenience during the summer months can be far worse in a snowstorm. Check the weather before a trip of any duration: even a trip to a nearby store can be dangerous if it begins to snow. Prepare yourself for the trip by purchasing local and state maps; even if you have a GPS system or a smart phone with GPS, service may be spotty or interrupted during a severe storm. Knowing alternate routes in case of road closures, accidents, or downed trees is important. Reviewing driving instructions on the best ways to steer, brake, and maneuver in snow and ice will also serve drivers well in an emergency situation.

SURVIVAL KIT

Stock your vehicle with a winter emergency survival kit to keep you and your passengers safe during a storm. An emergency kit should include, but not be limited to, the following items.

Snow brush and small or collapsible shovel. Keeping your windows clear increases visibility for the driver or for passers-by if you are stranded. Use the shovel to dig tires out of snow banks and to clear the area around the exhaust pipe if stranded in the snow.
Warning lights or road flares. These warn other drivers that your car is there, to avoid collisions, and advertise that you are in need of assistance.
Booster or jumper cables, extra windshield wiper fluid and antifreeze. Small problems can be life-threatening in a bad storm, so be prepared to service your vehicle’s needs when on the road.
A battery-operated radio with spare batteries. If you are stranded, use the radio to hear the latest news and weather reports without wasting your car’s gas.
A flashlight with spare batteries. Use the flashlight to signal passing cars or to illuminate an area of the car that needs repair.
Compass and map. If you are forced to leave your vehicle, or if you are lost in an unfamiliar area, a compass and a paper map will help you reach a safe shelter or continue on your way.
Matches or lighter in waterproof container. Use these to start an emergency fire to stay warm.
Plastic sheeting or tarp. Use this to keep you dry when installing tire chains.
Toilet paper and antibacterial hand lotion or wipes.
Metal can and candles. Use these for warmth and for light to conserve your flashlight’s batteries.
Standard first aid kit. Include bandages of different types and sizes, antiseptic, thermometer, soap, latex gloves, sunscreen, painkillers, antacid, anti-diarrhea medication, Syrup of Ipecac, laxatives, a one-day supply of any prescription medication you or your family take, and an extra pair of glasses or contact lenses.
Infant supplies, if applicable. Include a supply of diapers, wipes, plastic trash bags, and baby formula or food.
Food and water. Include a supply of high-calorie energy foods, such as protein bars, peanut butter, jelly, trail mix, crackers, and granola bars. Also include bottled water for washing and drinking.
Clothing. Include a change of clothing in case your clothing gets wet, rain gear, and sturdy boots. Also include water-proof gloves, thermal underwear, hats, and gloves.
Blankets or sleeping bags. Keeping warm is a priority in an emergency situation, so warm blankets or emergency space blankets are important parts of your kit.

PREPARING YOUR VEHICLE FOR WINTER

Winterize your vehicle before the first snowfall. In the fall, visit a trusted mechanic for a full vehicle tune-up to ensure your vehicle is running well. Ask the mechanic to examine your exhaust system for leaks, to avoid dangerous carbon monoxide from leaking into the vehicle’s passenger area. Also check the radiator and hoses for any cracks. Service the heating and cooling system to make sure the heater is working correctly and that you have sufficient anti-freeze. Test your car battery and check battery cables for corrosion or cracks. Make sure all belts and hoses are free of leaks, cracks, bulges, soft spots, or corrosion. Ask a brake technician to check and adjust your brakes and brake pads. Rotate your tires and check them for excessive or uneven wear that may indicate they need to be replaced. Check your tire pressure monthly: low tire pressure can mean a less sure grip on the road. Replace worn or cracked windshield wipers; test them to make sure all areas of the windshield are adequately cleared. Top off windshield wiper fluid. Make sure your headlights, fog lights, brake lights, and turn signals are working properly. If using studded or non-studded traction tires, check state laws and regulations and install them at the earliest date allowable.

Prepare your vehicle before every trip during the winter. Keep your gas tank at least half full and fill up before driving a long distance, at night, in the mountains, or on unfamiliar roads. Keep your cell phone charged and a charger or extra battery available in the car. Practice installing tire chains before it snows. Keep a map of chain-up areas and rest stops in your car in case you need to install chains while on the road. Know your state’s chain laws. If it begins to snow or if snow is forecast, install tire chains before you lose control of your vehicle.

KNOW BEFORE YOU GO

Before beginning your trip, remove all snow and ice from your car. Remove snow from the roof and passenger windows, even if it does not obstruct your visibility. Snow can fly off and hit other cars or fall forward onto the windshield. Also clear off your brake lights, headlights, and turn signals. When driving on snow and ice, drive more slowly than you would on dry road conditions. Allow yourself extra time to get to your destination. Be prepared for slow moving traffic and abandoned cars after a storm. Leave extra space between you and the car in front of you because it takes longer to slow and stop on snow or ice. If you are driving on a highway, do not use cruise control. Use extra caution and slow down in advance on bridges, concrete highways, curves, and shaded areas that may be icier than the road surface. If you see snowplows or sand spreaders, do not pass them or follow them too closely. These vehicles will pull over when it is safe to do so and allow you to pass them. Use your headlights when it is snowing, even during the day, and use your emergency flashers during a blizzard.

MANUEVERING IN SNOW AND ICE

Know what to do if you lose control of your vehicle or feel your tires lose traction. Avoid slamming on the brakes; instead, gradually slow down. Depress the brake pedal firmly and hold it down if you have anti-lock brakes. If you do not have anti-lock brakes, pump the brake pedal gently. Make sure your wheels keep turning; do not allow them to lock up. If they do, ease off the brake. Turn gradually and avoid sharp turns. Accelerate slowly and gradually to avoid sliding. Drivers in rear-wheel-drive vehicles may feel the initial loss of traction before entering a skid, although drivers of front-wheel-drive cars may not. If your rear wheels lose traction and skid, turn the wheel in the direction you want the front wheels to go. If your rear wheels skid to the right, steer to the right and vice versa. Steer firmly but avoid jerking the wheel, which may cause you to over correct and skid in the opposite direction. If your front wheels lose traction, let go of the gas and do not try to steer. As your vehicle slows down, your tires will regain traction and you may steer in the direction you want your front wheels to go.

IN CASE OF EMERGENCY

If your vehicle breaks down during a snowstorm or in very cold weather, or if you cannot continue your trip due to fatigue or weather conditions, pull over to the side of the road or onto the shoulder, if possible. Dial 9-1-1 from your cell phone and describe your exact location and situation. Follow the operator’s instructions and do not hang up until instructed to do so. You may be asked to tie a brightly colored object to the outside of your car, to put up road flares, or to keep your emergency flashers on.

Stay in your vehicle for shelter and bring items from your emergency kit into the cabin at once to avoid numerous cold trips to the trunk. Avoid walking in the cold, because hypothermia or exhaustion may result. Do not walk far from your vehicle in a snowstorm because it is easy to become disoriented and be unable to find your car again. Do not overexert yourself attempting to shovel or push your car out of a snowdrift: overexertion brings the risk of heart attack and injury. Additionally, sweating will soak your clothes and make you colder. Run the engine once or twice for ten minutes total each hour to keep warm, but do not let the engine run continuously. Clear the area around the radiator and exhaust pipe to prevent the engine from overheating and carbon monoxide from building up in the cabin. Make sure fresh air enters the vehicle regularly through the window.

Move your arms and legs frequently to maintain circulation and huddle together with other passengers for warmth. Use blankets and sleeping bags from your emergency kit. If you do not have blankets, use newspapers, magazines, or extra clothing to plug drafty doors or windows and to cover yourself. Make sure to remove your shoes and rub your feet occasionally. Use chemical hand warmers to keep extremities warm. Ration your food, water, flashlight batteries and emergency candles, especially if you are stuck in a very severe storm or remote area. Stay awake as much as possible to look for rescuers and to avoid succumbing to possible carbon monoxide poisoning or hypothermia.

GENERAL WINTERTIME ADVICE

Preparing yourself for winter includes more than winterizing your vehicle. Preparing your home and family for winter weather will help you stay warm, safe, and comfortable. Winterize your home by checking and adding insulation, if needed. Caulk up cracks near windows or doors and install weather-stripping to avoid drafts. Insulate windows with insulating film or storm windows and heavy draperies to minimize the amount of heat lost. Clean gutters: gutters clogged with leaves will not allow snow run-off to drain correctly, which can cause icing and possible damage to the gutter or roof. Repair roof leaks: snow may persist on shaded areas of the roof for weeks or even months, which can cause leaks or exacerbate existing leaks. Insulate pipes and let faucets drip during extreme cold to avoid freezing. Locate the water valve and know now to shut off the water supply if a pipe bursts.

Create a winter emergency survival kits for your home and store all items together in an easily-accessible areas. An outdoor or garage kit should include rock salt to melt snow, kitty litter or sand to increase traction, and snow shovels to clear walkways. An indoor kit should include canned and packaged food, bottled water, flashlights, extra batteries, lanterns, and candles with lighters or matches. Make a heating plan for your home in case you lose power. Purchase a portable generator or kerosene heater. Stock extra fuel for your wood burning stove or fireplace and store it in easy reach of the door. If you are trapped in your home during a storm, conserve fuel and keep your home cooler than normal. Make sure your home is well ventilate dif using a kerosene heater and refuel the heater outside. Make sure a fire extinguisher is at hand in case of emergency. If you or a family member experiences a medical emergency during a storm, call 9-1-1. Do not attempt to drive on unplowed or dangerous roads: emergency workers will come to you.