Congratulations on making it to 2021! With the new year here, we thought we should offer some friendly advice on dealing with the unexpected event of snow on your travels, and what to do if you get stuck in the snow, to get out.
Snow can surprise you. You go to bed to a perfectly clear sky and wake up buried in fresh powder. And then, driving down a covered road, you might have trouble distinguishing the asphalt from the grass, and find yourself stuck in a snowbank. Or perhaps your wheels have hit a patch of snow where there’s no traction from pavement to move forward. You’re just slipping deeper into the snow as your wheels are trying to find their footing.
Here are 4 steps to getting yourself out of the snow:
- Remember to check your tailpipe before you start. Before you begin a drive, be sure to clear snow and ice from your tailpipe. Exhaust caught in the tailpipe can back up into your car and kill you. When you approach your car to get in with deep snow, don’t forget to check that tailpipe.
- Always check traffic reports in your area. Websites like localconditions.com are able to clue you into traffic situations where heavy snow may cause problems for you.
- Be prepared. Carry a small shovel, a small broom, a run of old carpet, and salt, kitty litter, and dirt with you in containers. The shovel and brush help dig you out. The Carpet provides a temporary surface for getting safely out of the snow. Salt can melt ice, kitty litter and dirt can help you gain traction. I know it sounds weird carrying dirt in your car when the ground is full of it. (Until you try to dig in frozen dirt, anyway.) You can even use floor mats if you need to (not a great option as you need those floor mats in snowy weather to keep your car from getting grit inside
- Have a resource to remind you of the steps to take. Here’s a good one from RideShareUK on how to get unstuck in a standard automobile.
When it comes to getting stuck in the snow, always remember that the best way out is to avoid getting in where you can. But with the right preparation and supplies, you’ll do fine.
Just a reminder that Our Lifetime Protect Plan is helpful in our goal to get your vehicle to 300,000 miles and beyond. Let us show you how to get 300,000 miles or more out of your vehicle with proper maintenance. To hear more about the plan, click on this embedded link, or call Complete Automotive for a more detailed explanation of how the Lifetime Protect Plan works. Let us show you how to get 300,000 miles or more out of your vehicle with proper maintenance! You can find Complete Automotive at 2238 E. Chestnut Expy, Springfield, MO, 65802; our hours are Monday through Friday, 7:30 AM - 5:30 PM Timely Professional Affordable Auto Service? We Can Help With That!