Winter driving and your car emergency kit
Stay off the roads in a winter storm if you can. If you must go, slow down, keep your tank over half full, skip cruise control, and carry a winter kit. If you get stuck, stay in the car, run the engine about 10 minutes an hour with a window cracked, and keep the exhaust pipe clear of snow.
Information may be delayed or incomplete. Always verify with official sources and follow local officials.
Winter roads are dangerous. The National Weather Service, citing the Department of Transportation, says there are about 1.2 million weather-related vehicle crashes every year, with nearly 6,000 deaths and more than 445,000 injuries on average (NWS: Getting Traction).
“Stay off roads if at all possible. If trapped in your car, then stay inside.”Ready.gov, Winter Weather
Before you go
- Get your car ready in the fall. CDC says to check the antifreeze, switch to winter washer fluid, check tire tread and pressure, and make sure the heater, defroster, brakes, lights, exhaust, oil and battery work (CDC: Preparing for a Winter Storm).
- Clear the whole car. The National Weather Service says to clear snow and ice off the windows, sensors, headlights, taillights and backup camera. Flying snow from cars causes crashes.
- Check the forecast and the roads. If travel looks hazardous, change your plans (NWS).
- Tell someone your route. Let them know where you're going and when you expect to get there, so they know where to start looking if something happens (NWS).
- Fill up. Keep the tank over half full (NWS). CDC says a near-full tank also helps keep ice out of the tank and fuel lines.
Your winter car kit
Pulled from the CDC, Ready.gov and National Weather Service lists:
- Phone, charger or portable battery, and extra batteries
- Blankets, hats, mittens, coats and warm clothes
- Flashlight with extra batteries, and a battery-powered radio
- Water and high-calorie snacks that won't spoil
- First aid kit, any medicines you need, and a pocket knife
- Shovel, ice scraper and brush
- Sand or cat litter for traction
- Jumper cables, tow rope or chains, and tire chains
- Hazard reflectors or flares, and a bright cloth or help sign
- Road maps, and waterproof matches with a can to melt snow for water
Our emergency kit checklist covers the kit for home.
On the road
“Slow down! Even if the roads just look wet they could still be slick.”National Weather Service, What To Do If You're Caught in a Winter Storm
- Drive slower than normal and leave more room between you and other cars. Don't use cruise control, brake hard or make sharp turns (NWS).
- Don't crowd the plow. The road behind an active plow is safer, so give it room and pass only when it's safe (NWS).
- If you skid, stay calm, ease off the gas and steer the way you want the front of the car to go. With anti-lock brakes, press steadily and never pump them (NWS).
- If you can't see, pull over and stop until it clears. The National Weather Service says to turn off your lights and set the parking brake so other drivers don't follow your taillights into you.
- Wear your seatbelt, buckle kids into car seats, and don't text or call while driving (NWS).
- If you crash, pull off the road if you can, turn on your hazards or set out flares, stay off the road, and call 911 (NWS).
If you get stuck or stranded
“If you leave your vehicle, you will become disoriented quickly in wind-driven snow and cold.”National Weather Service, What To Do If You're Caught in a Winter Storm
- Stay in the car. Ready.gov and the National Weather Service both say to stay inside your vehicle.
- Run the engine about 10 minutes each hour for heat. Crack a window while it runs, and clear snow from the exhaust pipe so carbon monoxide doesn't build up inside (NWS).
- Be easy to see. Turn on the dome light at night while the engine runs, tie a bright cloth (red is best) to the antenna or door, and raise the hood after the snow stops (NWS).
- Don't wear yourself out. Shoveling, pushing a car or walking in deep snow can bring on a heart attack, and sweating can chill you (NWS).
- Watch for hypothermia and frostbite. Ready.gov says shivering, exhaustion, confusion, fumbling hands, slurred speech or drowsiness can mean hypothermia, and a body temperature below 95 degrees is an emergency. Numbness and white, grayish-yellow, firm or waxy skin can mean frostbite.
Common questions
What should I keep in my car for winter?
CDC, Ready.gov and the National Weather Service list a phone and charger, blankets and warm clothes, a flashlight with extra batteries, a first aid kit, water and snacks, a shovel, an ice scraper, sand or cat litter for traction and jumper cables.
What should I do if my car gets stuck in snow?
Stay in the car. The National Weather Service says to run the motor about 10 minutes each hour for heat, crack a window, keep the exhaust pipe clear of snow, and make the car easy for rescuers to see.
How do I handle a skid on ice?
The National Weather Service says to stay calm, ease off the gas, and steer the way you want the front of the car to go. With anti-lock brakes, press steadily and never pump them.
Should I use cruise control on icy roads?
No. The National Weather Service says not to use cruise control, brake quickly or make sharp turns in winter weather.
How full should I keep my gas tank in winter?
Over half full, the National Weather Service says. CDC says keeping it near full also helps avoid ice in the tank and fuel lines.
More: Winter storms (live warnings) · Winter outages, generators and frozen pipes · Space heater and heating safety · Lake effect snow and snow squalls