Why is it best to exit a vehicle when caught in a snow storm?

• Try to get as far off the traveled roadway as you safely can.

• Turn on your flashers, and leave them on. A dead battery is better than causing an accident for which you could be held responsible.

• Set out flares to warn other drivers, if you can safely do so.

• Make a reasoned judgment about whether to remain with the vehicle and call for help, or to strike out on your own. Some factors to consider are your health, clothing for the weather, distance to the nearest help, and likelihood of your vehicle being hit while you’re inside it.

• Leave a note in the window with your contact information. That improves your chance of hearing from someone who hits your vehicle, or from the authorities.

• Take your most valuable items with you.

• Be sure to remove personal information that could allow a thief to locate your home and loved ones, steal your identity, or otherwise defraud you.

• Secure the vehicle by setting the emergency brake and locking the doors. Professional towing companies know how to safely tow your vehicle.

You can prevent having to abandon a vehicle by monitoring the weather before a storm hits. But if you’re unavoidably caught in a snowstorm, be prepared. Proper snow tires and/or chains will help you maneuver through snow and ice. Keep emergency winter clothes and supplies in your vehicle to buy you time and protection.

Unless there is a house or business nearby, stay with your car. It is not recommended to try and walk to safety.

Put a brightly colored cloth on your antenna as a signal for help.

Start your car and use the heater for about 10 minutes every hour.

Make sure that snow hasn't accumulated and might be blocking your exhaust pipe.

When running your engine, leave the overhead light on so that you can be seen by rescuers.

Exercise your arms and legs every few minutes to keep your blood circulating which will help to keep you warm.

Open one window slightly to let air in, the window away from the blowing wind.

Drink fluids to avoid dehydration.

Be careful not to waste your car's battery power

If you are in a remote area, try to spell out letters of SOS with rocks or tree limbs to attract attention.

If absolutely necessary, once the storm passes, leave the car and proceed on foot.

It isn't.

It is usually better to stay with your vehicle in a snowstorm (the exception being in a location with imminent danger like a live lane on a freeway or a railway crossing). You have a much greater chance of being found in your vehicle than if you wandered off away from it. If you find yourself stuck, run the vehicle for a few minutes every hour with the windows cracked.

You should always have in your vehicle, a cell phone, blankets, flares and cones.

Because you can get trapped inside the car and it would be covered in snow,so nobody would be able to find you.

Snow plows can plow over buried automobiles.