Ways to Handle Your Car Being Stuck In Snow
Though many people may love it when the snow begins to fall and turns everything into a winter wonderland, poor road conditions can be a migraine for drivers. Whenever you park in an uncovered area after heavy snowfall, you run the risk of your wheels spinning on the snow or ice. If your car tires are spinning in the snow, then follow these steps to remove your vehicle from its unfortunate position.
How to Get a Car Out of Snow
- Clear the Snow - Obvious, but necessary. Using a snow shovel, ice scraper, or even your gloved hands to clear snow around the tires will have a dramatic effect on the chances of getting out of the snow.
- Create Traction - To give your tires a proper grip, you can use sand, kitty litter, old floor mats, or even rocks/branches. Whatever you have lying around can be put under the tires to give the tread something to hold onto. Be sure to turn off traction control and only apply a gentle amount of gas to the accelerator.
- Gently Rock the Vehicle - Rocking the car can be effective, and can be done whether you are alone or with others. If you are alone, use your lowest gear and switch between forward and reverse with gentle pressure on the pedal. If you have others with you, they can help by slowly pushing the vehicle out of the snow, just make sure that you don’t spray them with anything you used to create traction.
- Call a Tow Truck - If all else fails, you can try towing your vehicle out of the precarious spot with another truck. Having a friend or family member’s vehicle on hand would do well, but if you are not so lucky then you may have to call for professional assistance.