After last winter, we should all be professional drivers in the snow. However, here at Educators Insurance, we know it’s not that easy and can sometimes be frightening. Do you know what to do if your car gets stuck in the snow? Here at three steps to follow that we hope will help prepare you.
1. Clear a path around your tires – place your vehicle in park with the emergency brake on and try to dig out around your tires creating a path. If you don’t have a shovel, you can use any handy objects you can find. Important reminder: It’s imperative that you make sure your tailpipe is cleared and not clogged with snow because this can result is deadly gasses building up inside your vehicle while you are outside.
2. Add traction and soften your tires – if you have sand or kitty litter in your vehicle, sprinkle it front of and behind your tires. If you have front wheel drive, you want to spread it more in front of your front tires and if you have rear wheel drive, you should spread it in front of your rear tires. If you let a little air out of your tires, they can actually grab the ground better.
3. Straighten your wheel – apply gentle pressure on the gas while lightly tapping the brake pedal. If your wheel starts to spin, release the gas, gently reverse and attempt to drive forward again. If you push too much pressure on the gas, this will force the snow to melt from the heat of your tire and dig you deeper into the snow.
These three steps should free your vehicle. Your safety is always on our mind and our experienced advisors are here to answer any questions that you have and help prepare you for the snow. Call us at 877.284.7646! LC 2016- 033