What to do if your car is stuck in the snow and no one is around: four main rules

A snowy winter will soon come to Ukraine. This means that drivers will have more problems with car maintenance. And not those whose cars spend the night on the street and need to be dug out and defrosted in the morning. Anyone can get into a snowdrift on the road, so you need to make sure in advance that you know how to free your vehicle from this trap.

OBOZ.UA asked experts for their advice on this matter. The first of them is not to be nervous and not to act chaotically. Follow these instructions to quickly cope with such a nuisance.

Clear the area around the tires

If the car gets stuck and starts to slip, try to remove snow and ice from under the drive wheels. You need to clear a few meters in front of and behind the wheels to be able to "roll" the car back and forth. Be sure to remove snow under the front or middle of the car if it is higher than the height of the ground clearance. Always keep a snow shovel in the trunk.

Roll the vehicle to get out of the trap

Gently shifting from gear to reverse will help remove some of the snow from the wheels and free the car. Shift into gear, then reverse, and repeat several times in a row. However, be careful not to damage the transmission. At the peak of each attempt, press the brake so that the car remains stationary while shifting gears. It's also a good idea to use neutral for a second before shifting.

Do not use brute force

When trying to free yourself, don't try to force the movement. Press the pedal lightly to give the car some gas for a moment, and then release it. Repeat to increase the desired movement. It is the right amount of momentum, not brute force, that will help you get free.

Increase the grip under the tires

If the above measures don't help, try making the tires grip the road better. Sprinkling sand, salt, nearby road dirt, and even kitty litter in front and behind them can help. Throw a few handfuls under the wheels and repeat the previous steps.

If none of the above helps, you'll have to call for help. Therefore, always keep emergency phone numbers of the relevant services at hand. And if possible, do not plan long trips in snowy weather.

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