Disclosure: This post is sponsored by Desjardins Insurance. All opinions are my own.
We love to travel and have taken some long distance road trips in the winter. Driving in severe weather conditions can be scary and dangerous. You should know the safety rules for coping with winter roadside emergencies and always be cautious while driving in severe weather.
Long Distance Winter Driving Tips
- Watch the weather reports before heading out on a long-distance road trip.
- When bad weather is expected, delay your trip. If you have to leave, let family members know your route and estimated time of arrival.
- Always make sure your vehicle is in good working condition, by having it inspected at an approved auto repair facility.
- Maintain at least half a tank of gas in your vehicle at all times.
- Pack a cell phone, medications, blankets, warm outdoor clothing and plenty of food and water in your vehicle.
- If you become snowbound, stay in your vehicle. It will provide you with temporary shelter.
- Don’t over exert yourself, if you try to dig your vehicle out of the snow.
- Tie a neon coloured cloth to the antenna to signal distress.
- Make sure your exhaust pipe isn’t blocked with snow. If your exhaust pipe is blocked, it could cause carbon monoxide to leak into the passenger compartment when the engine is running.
- Run the engine and heater just long enough to remove the chill and try to conserve gas, until help arrives.
Win Free Gas for A Year!
In an effort to simplify your winter driving, Desjardins Insurance has decided to give a lucky winner a year’s worth of gas, so you can always keep your tank full. All you have to do to qualify is simply get an online quote for your insurance needs.
Desjardins Insurance has the right coverage to help you protect the things that matter most to you. And now, for a limited time, you could be entered to win FREE GAS for a year when you complete an online quote. It’s quick and easy – and you can see just how much you can save with a Desjardins Agent.
To Enter:
- Visit WinFreeGasWithDesjardinsAgents.com
- Click “Get a Quote” and complete the form.
Contest closes December 17th, 2018 at 11:59 am EST.
This contest is open to Alberta, Ontario and New Brunswick residents only. No purchase necessary. See full Contest Rules.
Jennifer Wilson says
November 16, 2018 at 3:26 pmIf you get snowbound and are staying in your vehicle make sure your exhaust doesn’the get blocked or you could succumb to carbon monoxide poisoning.
kathy downey says
November 16, 2018 at 5:26 pmWould love a chance at free gas,shame it’s not available in my area!
Janet M says
November 17, 2018 at 2:24 pmThanks for the info. I do have my car ready for winter and we just had a major storm.
Lynda Cook says
November 18, 2018 at 5:19 amGreat post, throughout the winter months I always make sure my gas is full and I keep some supplies in the back, you just never know what will happen, I have ditched my car a few times and it was all because of black ice, it’s better to be prepared!
Carole says
November 18, 2018 at 6:54 pmThese are all great tip! Nothing worst to get stranded in winter time and not be prepare.
Heather Howard says
November 18, 2018 at 9:12 pmKeeping a half tank between paydays is tough to do
cheryl hodgkins says
November 19, 2018 at 10:21 pmI wasnt aware that tying a neon coloured cloth to the antenna signals distress. Good to know 🙂
jan says
November 20, 2018 at 5:47 pmIt really isn’t asking too much to get your car ready, but it is so simple to ignore the task.
Kay Burke says
November 23, 2018 at 12:58 pmKeeping gas in the tank – good idea
Silvia D says
November 24, 2018 at 3:41 amnot in my area but lots of great info!
Miriam Wilton says
November 26, 2018 at 2:28 amso glad we moved to BC where winter isn’t an issue most of the time! i have learned to just stay off the roads here when the weather gets bad because no one here knows how to drive in it.
Fan R. says
November 26, 2018 at 9:15 pmI always need to remember to maintain at least half a tank of gas!
wendy hutton says
November 27, 2018 at 4:37 pmbe great to win free gas, its so expensive
Sarah says
December 16, 2018 at 6:16 pmGreat contest! 🙂 thanks for sharing. Free gas for a year would be such a big help.
Jennifer P. says
December 17, 2018 at 12:33 amThose are all fantastic tips for winter car safety, and great reminders – thank you!! I’m in BC, the lower mainland, so we don’t get a lot of snow. Thus it is helpful to read these tips for when we drive to the Okanagan or Whistler, as well as for our trips back East every few years. Also, great contest for those in the applicable provinces – good luck to those of you who can enter!