Get a grip

While planning for a ski trips to the mountains this past weekend, I was pleasantly surprised to learn that Budget rent a car  now offers snow tires as an optional upgrade when available.  Not having winter tires when traveling through the mountains has always been a concern of mine, and a reason to resist renting.

Rather than drive two small cars to Banff, I loaded Vivian and all the boys into a minivan, paid the extra $30 to have new winter tires on our ride, and off we went.  I felt an extra sense of security with the grip while winding up the snowy road to Sunshine Village, but it was on the trip home that I was most appreciative.

I spotted at least a dozen cars in the ditch just north of Calgary, But only really started counting cars after I had seen one car wrapped around a pole near Red Deer, and a couple of flip over’s soon after.  At one point before Leduc we were averaging one car in the ditch every kilometer or so. I figure we must have passed about 30 within the few hours on the road.  I always slowed with caution to see if assistance was required, but many vehicles were long abandoned, or already assisted with emergency personnel.

Even with my new winter tires, and heavy load on the road, I could feel the slush and slop, and always ensured I had good distance between the car in front of me. 

I have had my experienced a rollover in my own 57 Beetle when cresting a slushy side road one spring.  It was a soft role in powdery snow, and aside from wishing I tied the battery in a little better I came out OK.  I discovered the chaos that comes with an upside-down vehicle and understand the confusion that follows.

When my Accord slid into a frozen Hastings lake after taking an icy corner a little too quickly, I was thankful that my son and I had good boots and mitts for the long walk home in -25deg weather.

 I have recovered from my share of fishtailing pickups, and 360 degree loops de loops while overshooting an intersection, and have spent many hours digging and winching vehicles from the snow through poor judgment and youthful exuberance.

I am in no position to judge another driver, yet wise enough to have learned from my experiences

I have learned to be prepared in winter.  I took time before our ski trip to load the rental van with tow ropes, shovel, traction plates, and booster cables.  I have learned to keep winter gear on, or nearby when the temperature drops, and carry the equipment needed to get you out of trouble.

The same day I returned the rental, a pickup truck I was following, got into a fishtail swerve situation and lost control, although the driver tried to gently put it in the ditch, it ended flipping sideways on impact, breaking glass, and tossing goods all over the place, fortunately it ended up back on its wheels.

I stopped to offer first aid, and found that all occupants were safely buckled in and wearing winter coats.  The infant in the back was still securely strapped in a car seat and every body seemed to be OK.  I stuck around the half hour or so to calm the occupants, assist in gathering their goods, and helped get the infant up the police cruiser.

I learned that although I stopped to check for injuries and assist this family that was still 300km away from Provost, nobody else on the highway bothered to venture through the snow to check if help was needed.  One man stood on the edge of the road and peered down with inquiry, while another yelled from her car window, so I should hope I had help if it was called for.

I have learned that we should do all we can to best prepare ourselves for the unexpected  in these icy winter conditions,  Use winter tires when possible, Carry warm clothes and emergency gear, and by all means stop to help one another when required to do so.

Go out and make it a great day,

Be prepared, and always be willing to help others,

Blaine