Reno Towing
Towing Reno NV - Road Safety Tips
Living in Reno, NV means dealing with various changes in weather as the climate changes. Read below for safety tips on the road during foul weather from the book by Julie Sussman, et al's (Dare To Repair Your Car). We at Reno Towing Company are always ready for these kind of situations.
Tornadoes and Hurricanes
If you see a tornado heading your way, don't try to outrace it; instead, get out of your car and run for cover into a building. If there's no building nearby, then find a ditch, taking caution to protect your head from flying debris. Also, never drive your car under an overpass because it will not protect you during a tornado.
Once a hurricane warning has been issued, be sure to fill up your tank; gas pumps fail to operate when there is no electricity. You should never try to outstay a hurricane, but if you're unable to leave, do not stay in your car or mobile home. Hurricanes can produce flash floods that can carry you and your car away. Instead, wait to drive until the warning has been lifted.
Lightning
It's much safer for you to be in your car during a lightning storm than outside because if your car gets hit, the rubber tires will diffuse some of the electricity and the exterior of the car acts like a shell that absorbs most of it. Keep your windows up.
If you're driving your car in a storm and lightning is occurring, safely pull over to the side of the road, turn on the emergency signals, and turn the engine off. Do not touch anything metal in the car, such as a door handle or radio knob. Just sit there with your hands in your lap to keep you from accidentally touching anything you shouldn't. If your car is struck by lightning, don't try to leave your vehicle because you'll risk getting shocked; instead, wait for help to arrive.
Blizzard
If you're ever stranded in your car by snow, the rule of thumb is to never abandon your vehicle. Why? A vehicle offers shelter from the harsh weather conditions, it's easier to spot than a person, and you may get lost or hurt if you venture away.
If you're wondering whether you should call 91 I or your auto club service, it depends on the situation. If you are in a populated area and not in any foreseeable danger, you should call your auto club service. If you don't belong to an auto club, call a towing company. If, however, you are in a remote area, call 911 for help and give as much detailed information as you can on your whereabouts, and ask for an estimated time of arrival. Don't leave your cell phone on because it's best to save the battery.
Your main goal in a situation like this is to prevent hypothermia from setting in, so you need to keep your body warm and dry.
Now that you've called for help, let's assume that you have the winter emergency kit (see page 325) inside the car and the gas tank is at least half full. Turn the engine off to conserve fuel.
The next thing to do is to remove the red rag from your emergency kit and tie it to the top of the antenna or to the highest point on the top of your car, like a roof rack. Take out the shovel and dig away any snow that's around the tailpipe.
Turn the engine on to heat up the car and put the window down a bit to get fresh air inside, but don't run the engine and heater for too long. In fact, AAA recommends that you run the engine for only 10 minutes per hour.
If help has not arrived in the time you were told, call again. Just be aware that if there is a major snowstorm in the area, you are probably not the only person stranded – but you're probably the most prepared."