How To Get Your Car Out of the Snow

Unfortunately from time to time those of us who live in northern climates get our vehicles stuck in the snow. In most cases, despite our best efforts, we only make it make the problem worse in trying to fix it. We constantly switch from drive to reverse attempting to get a running start on a hole in the ground that we are only making deeper. Here are some time-honored tricks that will get you out of the next snow drift that you may find yourself in.
 
1. Dig yourself out
The first thing to do if you have a shovel handy is to dig a clear path around your tires. You want to have a couple of feet clear both in front and behind the tires in order to move the car back and forth until you can get out of the snow. Also dig out any snow that is in the middle of your car or in front of the bumper as it may put you right back in the same situation that you were before.
 
2.  Avoid putting the pedal to the medal
We all experience that need for speed when we get caught in the snow, but that isn’t the best course of action to take in getting yourself free. It’s better to slowly press on the gas feeling for responsiveness in the vehicle. In this case, it’s torque that’s going to get you out not horsepower.
 
3. Create traction
Snow is not known to typically have the most friction in the universe, so it may be best to get something on the ground under your tires that does. Almost anything granular like pebbles, snow melt, or sand will do the trick. Throw some in front of and behind your tires and see if that will get you moving.
 
4. Push!
If all else fails, either call all of the neighborhood kids, your friend with 4 wheel drive, or that good samaritan passing by and have them help push you out of the snow. Of course, make sure that everyone stays safe and out of the path of the vehicle. It’s also important that they have on appropriate shoes as to not slip and fall themselves.
 
Because unexpected situations like these happen all of the time it’s smart to prepare. Keep a shovel handy and some snow melt handy in your trunk along with the ice scrapper. Just in case a tire pops and you have to wait for a tow truck company, have a warm blanket and some hand warmers to keep you comfortable until they get there. Follow the scouts motto “BE PREPARED”.