Did you know that more than 150,000 auto crashes occur annually due to icy roads in the US? This accounts for about 135,000 injures every year. Winter is such a bad time for drivers in America because of black ice. Black ice is a transparent coating of ice on roads that is nearly invisible to the human eye while driving. Other dangers include sudden heavy snowstorms that affect road visibility and turns the roads both icy and slippery. All of these things are prevalent in Colorado. Here are a few things to keep in your car in case you have an accident or get stranded due to winter weather.
Driving Safely in Winter
The best way to minimize auto accidents during extreme winter weather is to simply stay home until the weather improves. If you must go out, and let's face it that will be most of us, you should keep a winter survival kit in your car for emergencies. The most important items to keep in your kit will be a first aid kit, a snow shovel/scraper, and a set of tire chains. Always check to make sure you have your cell phone with you when you get in the car. Also, make sure it is charged—it will not do you any good if you can't use it to call for help. Here are some more things that you might not think of when packing your emergency kit.
A flashlight or candles in case you get stuck without power at night; this means you also need extra batteries or some sort of lighter. Cat Litter can be used behind the wheels of your car to help gain traction is you find yourself stuck in wet a area. Also, pack a few bottles of water and some dried foods like protein bars to keep your energy topped of. Hand warmers are a great thing to have onboard, but make sure you buy new ones every winter because they do expire. Worse case scenario you'll be stranded for several hours before help arrives, so try to keep a sleeping bag or a spare blanket in your car to help you keep warm.