Snow + Roads = Disaster?

            Snow will soon overtake our streets and highways, which means tow truck companies are going to be very busy hauling vehicles out of ditches and medians. If your vehicle were to hit a patch of black ice and slide off the road into a small gorge, how prepared would you be? Take this quick test to find out:

1.     Is your gas tank above half full?

2.     Does your heater work?

3.     Do you have spare water somewhere in your vehicle?

4.     Is your vehicle equipped with flares or some other attention-grabber?

5.     Do you keep extra items of warm clothing in your vehicle?

If you were able to answer “yes” to all of these, you are free to stop reading this article and move on to something more interesting. If you answered “no” to at least three, though, there is one final question in the test:

6.     Is your last will and testament in order?

            This test comes in handy not only after you find yourself at the bottom of a ravine, but also if you’re stuck on a freeway during a whiteout blizzard. Quickly falling snow can easily bring freeway traffic to a standstill, especially if an accident is already blocking one or two lanes. Throughout the past few decades, storms across the United States have shut down whole sections of highways, stranding motorists, and making it all but impossible to clear the roadway. Emergency crews have had to brave icy conditions to reach motorists who are in desperate need of more gas to keep their cars running and warm, as well as water and other necessities.

            Do yourself a favor and be prepared for that scenario. Sure, your quarter-tank of gas may last you five to six hours idling, but what if you’re stranded for 24 hours or more? And besides water, you may want to have a snack or two tucked away somewhere, just in case. Luckily for me, my little boy drops bits of his graham crackers and other treats in the back seat of my car. The best-case scenario for a winter slide-off or freeway stranding would be that you are returning from a grocery-shopping trip. You wouldn’t even have to worry about the ice cream; you would simply place it right outside your door.

            I’ve only been worried once in my life that I wasn’t going to make it home during a blizzard. I was nearing the top of Parley’s Canyon, slightly past the Jeremy Ranch exit. Traffic was moving at about an inch per minute and all I could see ahead of me was a sea of snowflakes and steadily blinking taillights. Even though I had a vehicle that could have probably made it up the hill in less than five minutes, all the semis and vehicles without chains or snow tires were completely clogging the road. Suddenly a 20-minute trip down to Salt Lake was turning into a potential overnight debacle. All I could imagine is that it was gridlock the whole way down the canyon.

            I wasn’t prepared at all for that blizzard. Fortunately for my passengers and me, it only took two hours to reach our destination, but if it had taken longer, I’m sure we would have quickly run out of gas and any sort of food or water that we had had in the car. The amazing thing is, we were on a roadway with 200 or more other people, and most of us were more than likely ill prepared for the little blizzard that struck with a big fury. 200 people and not enough resources spell disaster. Be prepared this season and make sure your vehicle contains the necessary elements for survival. Hopefully you won’t have to use them, but you’ll be happy you have them if you do.