Winter Driving Preparedness

11/25/2020 (Permalink)

Vehicle covered in snow on side of road

While we may love living in South Dakota during the beautiful Spring-Summer-Fall seasons, winter in the Dakotas is a harsh wake up call that ultimately helps us appreciate the months of the year we can enjoy the outdoors. Along with the grey skies, winter in the Sioux Falls area can bring high-volume snow storms as well as extreme winds that greatly affect the wind-chill. For those of us who have lived in the area, we know the hazards of a harsh winter on the plains. For those who are new to the area, and as a reminder for us who have lived here, we wanted to give you some pointers on what to do if you are caught in your vehicle during a snowstorm.

Driving during a winter storm

Our first bit of advice on traveling during a winter storm, is to not do it! But we know that is not always realistic. When traveling during a snow storm:

• Slow Down! Higher speeds increase the risk of injury during an accident.
• Clear your vehicle of snow and ice before embarking on your trip.
• Be sure to have an emergency road side kit as well as blankets, food, and bottled water.
• If your visibility deteriorates to the point that driving is unsafe, pull over to the shoulder of the road and turn on your emergency lights.

Should you have to stop your vehicle and wait out a snow storm:

• Do not leave your vehicle unless to get an item from the trunk.
• Run the motor in ten minute intervals each hour to retain heat inside the vehicle.
• Clear snow buildup from the tail pipe if necessary.
• Turn on your dome light at night while running the vehicle so help can find you.
• After snow has stopped falling, put up your car hood so your vehicle is easily visible.

For even more great information visit https://www.weather.gov/safety/winter-during.