With winter slamming New England this week you should be prepared to be off of the roads as much as possible. One of my least favorite experiences is driving in a whiteout. It is one of the most frightening things I have ever been through. It is amazing to me that the snow I adore can cause me to be so stressed! Have you ever been in a whiteout? A whiteout occurs when almost all visibility is lost due to snow. During a whiteout, drivers lose sight of the horizon. Without a horizon as a reference point, our minds lose the ability to figure out which way is up down left or right; resulting in complete disorientation. So, what do you do if you are driving when these conditions develop? The obvious answer is to stop. Right? If you can’t see where to drive you should stop. With that being said, you cannot just stop in the middle of road. Stopping in the middle of the road during a whiteout is one of the most common causes of major pile ups on the highway. Instead, try your best to locate the road, and get off as safely as possible.
Once you are off the road, stay buckled in your seat and turn the hazard lights on so they are flashing. It is important to do this so oncoming vehicles can see you. Call 911 as soon as you pull over so they can come to your aid while you wait for visibility to return. Don’t drive again until help arrives AND don’t leave your vehicle! Prepare yourself and your passengers for the possibility to become stuck for an extended period of time. Bundle up, retrieve your emergency kit from your trunk, and start conserving gas. Unless your vehicle is extremely cold, turn your vehicle on every thirty minutes and leave it running for no more than fifteen minutes (make sure your exhaust pipe does not become clogged with snow.)
Have you ever been stuck in whiteout?
Tell us what you did in the comments below.
