Westworld Alberta
Issue link: http://westworldmagazine.ama.ab.ca/i/89721
Prep for Winter Driving with AMA Rick: This was an error in judgment. As soon as Jim saw the weather beginning to turn, he should have reduced his speed and started looking for a safe place to exit the highway and park. Randy: Remember that in Alberta, weather conditions can change unexpect- edly, despite what might have been in the weather report. Drivers need to be prepared for any eventuality. Rick: If Jim couldn't fi nd a safe spot to park, he should have slowed down and driven according to the weather conditions. As a last resort, he could have pulled over to the shoulder (remember, it's not advisable to pull over to the side of the road unless you have no other options). views), and the highways were in good driving condition. The forecast was for sun all weekend. The boys rolled their eyes. Parents: so embar- rassing. Peggy laughed. The drive started out beautifully. But as they ■ Pick up an emergency roadside kit at any AMA centre. Just $79.99 for members and $99.99 for non-members. snowfl akes started to fall. And, without warning, Jim was driving through some of the worst road conditions he'd ever seen. With visibility near zero, and nowhere to pull over now, he kept going at the same speed. Suddenly, Jim felt himself sliding across his approached the Cochrane turn-off for Banff , the skies started to darken and clouds rolled in. Jim felt a twinge of apprehension. But he shook off the feeling and pressed on, eager to make it to the hotel and sett le in. Then, seemingly out of nowhere, fat white ■ Pick up maps and tourbooks at your nearest AMA centre. lane. Peggy gasped. Their stomachs lurched as they felt the car lose traction, and they slid across the lane into the ditch. With a thud, the car fi nally came to rest, with a view of nothing but white out each window. So, what would you have done differently? Tell us! Or, email your stories of winter-driving close calls and quick thinking to: Westworld@ama.ab.ca. ■ Download the CAA app (available for iPhone, Blackberry and Android) to have maps, Roadside Assistance and AMA member discounts at your fi ngertips. What to do if you're stuck in a storm So the worst has happened. Your vehicle skid- ded off the road in a whiteout. Here's what to do: ■ Call for help. If your cellphone isn't working, settle in and await help. In a blizzard, rescue workers will be looking for stranded vehicles. ■ Stay inside the vehicle. Do not leave your vehicle unless you can see, with your own eyes, a safe place to seek shelter. ■ Make use of your winter emergency kit. It should be stored inside the vehicle. ■ Conserve your battery and your gas. Run your heater only at regular intervals – for about 15 minutes every hour. ■ Huddle together for heat. You should also stimulate circulation by moving your arms, hands and feet. Stay as dry as possible and add extra layers of cloth- ing (but not so many that you perspire). iStock ■ Clear the snow from your exhaust pipe. This reduces the risk of carbon monox- ide backing up and fl ooding the inside of the vehicle. ■ Be visible: Hang a brightly coloured cloth or fl ag out the window. At night, turn on the internal dome light to increase your visibility. ■ Crack a window. While it may be tempt- ing to seal in as much heat as possible, you don't want to risk carbon monoxide poisoning (symptoms include drowsi- ness, dizziness and headaches). ■ Hydrate and ration food. Drink small amounts of water and eat small snacks throughout the day. ■ Don't sleep. One passenger should be awake at all times to keep an eye out for rescue crews. WESTWORLD >> NOVEMBER 2012 45 ■ Program the AMA Road Assistance number into your phone: 1-800-CAA-HELP. ■ Before you go anywhere, check AMA Road Reports for detailed high- way condition information and live views of the province's roads (AMARoadReports.ca).