Cold War Combatants

Survive the Ravages of Winter Highway Driving With These Essential Preps.

- Abe Elias

Every season has its dangers. If you live in an area that offers the extremes of all four seasons, you know you need to prepare for all the challenges each brings. In the case of winter, travel presents its very own set of potentially fatal hazards.

To make traveling safer, we put together a winter car survival kit. Some of the elements chosen for the kit are common to other seasons. For the most part, we’ll take a more in-depth look at items and techniques that’re more useful in winter.

Stuck in a Rut

Getting stuck is more likely to happen in the winter season than any other, depending on where you live. Winter’s probably also the most dangerous time to be stuck as well. Here are some ideas to keep you on the move.

Sandbaggers: Sometimes we’re stuck only because our tires can’t find traction on a slick surface to get us moving again. One tool to get you back on the go is a bag of sand or cat litter stored in your trunk. You can buy either from a number of stores.

In the event your tires can’t get any traction, just retrieve the cat litter or sand and sprinkle some under your drive tires (make sure you know whether your car is front- or rear-wheel drive). In a pinch, you can use your car’s floor mats.

When getting underway, apply the gas slowly. Too much right foot and you’ll burn through the sand or cat litter and end up right back on the ice. Once the car starts to move, keep it going and don’t stop until you know you’re someplace safe to stop. Keep this in mind even if some of your passengers hopped out to push the car. Keep the car going. It’s better they walk to meet you and get back in the car than getting stuck again.