Tips for when your car is stuck in a snowstorm

In conditions of heavy snowfall and blizzards, when even heavy equipment cannot manage to pass, drivers are advised to follow a series of steps to free the vehicle and ensure safety.

1️⃣ Self-extraction stage. Do not accelerate sharply: excessive wheel spin digs the wheels deeper into the snow. Try to straighten the wheels; movement starts more easily when the wheels are aligned straight. For automatic transmission, switch between Drive and Reverse modes, pressing the brake at peak points to stabilize the vehicle before changing direction. For manual transmission, use the 'rocking' technique: gently operate the clutch, move back and forth using inertia. Improve traction by clearing snow in front of the drive wheels, reducing tire pressure, and placing floor mats from the cabin, branches, sand, or anti-slip mats under the wheels.

2️⃣ When the vehicle gets stuck. Mark your location: turn on hazard lights, fog lights, and set up a warning triangle. In case of emergency, call 112 (EMERCOM), and if necessary, contact private towing services. Inside the vehicle, check the exhaust pipe: if it becomes blocked by snow, carbon monoxide may enter the cabin. With the engine running, keep a window slightly open for ventilation. Save fuel by heating the cabin in short intervals.

3️⃣ General recommendations. Do not leave the vehicle if you encounter a severe blizzard on the highway without shelter. If you must exit, stay dry and cover exposed body parts to prevent frostbite.

Such instructions serve as practical guidance for drivers facing extreme winter conditions on the roads of Belarus.