The Colorado State Patrol and the AAA figured now is as good a time as any to remind motorists what to do if they have a wreck in a blizzard.
Winter means ice
Long, cold, nights bring ice, especially hard to see black ice on roadways and bridges. Storms cause even more immediate hazards. Of course, this could never happen to you, but the experts note if you must “hit the roads during the winter weather, be prepared for the possibility of a crash.”
The first thing drivers should remember is “slow down and leave plenty of space between vehicles.”
Not only can the expressway turn into a skating rink without warning, weather related hazards are endless. That’s why it’s a really good idea to keep a survival kit in your car. Pack it with “warm clothes, water, and non-perishable food.” Winter conditions can also keep you trapped in your vehicle for prolonged periods.
That’s why it’s a great idea to pack “something to keep you entertained if you get stranded, like a deck of cards.” Games that don’t need batteries or power are essential. Colorado State Patrol and AAA “also recommend keeping your gas tanks full and your phones fully charged.”
Before venturing forth into any winter storm, “it’s not a bad idea to let people know where you’re headed and when you’re expected to be home in the event you do get into a crash.” The best prepared and careful driver “may still get into an accident while driving.” In Colorado, you’re required by law to report any crash to law enforcement “regardless of road conditions.”
They do cut you a little slack. “If there are snowy conditions, you have 72 hours to report the accident as long as no one is seriously injured, the vehicles aren’t blocking any roadways and impairment isn’t believed to be a factor in the crash.” Just to be clear, they remind “if the accident is more serious, you should still call 911.”
Be prepared
Like the Boy Scouts say, be prepared. In the colder months, you need to be aware that there’s a big chance “that it may take longer for emergency crews to get to you, which is why they recommend having a winter driving kit ready in your car.”
In the summer, carry lots of water and sun screen. CSP reminds “if you do get into an accident, the safest place for you to be is inside your vehicle.” Don’t go wandering off in the snow or you may never be found.
“Don’t be eager to jump out. Don’t be eager to go and talk to the other driver or try and wave anybody down, anything like that,” Trooper Josh Lewis advises, especially in winter. You might have a semi slide into you.
“The best thing you can do at that point, stay in your vehicle, contact the authorities. Obviously, if you need any type of medical attention, make sure they’re aware of it.”
Triple A says if you’re on the road and need help, then by all means call. They also ask folks to go back in and make some hot chocolate before calling them out to a dead battery in the garage on a wet snowy winter night.
“Priority number one for everybody right now who’s working the roads is getting to those folks whose safety needs need to be met,” AAA’s Skyler McKinley explains.
