Stranded in winter — Maine Permit Test

If you are stranded in winter and must wait for help, stay with your car.

Most winter deaths happen when people leave the car, get lost and freeze.

Stay with your car.

While stranded in winter, put a red flag on your radio antenna or driver's door handle and, if you have them, place flares to the front and rear of the car.

A car under drifting snow is easy to miss, so a flag and flares let rescuers and plows find it.

Put a red flag on your radio antenna or driver's door handle and, if available, place flares to the front and rear of your car.

While stranded, run the engine and heater until the car is warm, then shut it off, and repeat when you start to feel cold again.

Leaving the engine running nonstop burns your fuel and keeps exhaust building up around the car.

Run the engine and heater until the car is warm, and then shut it off.

While stranded, crack your windows slightly for fresh air and keep the exhaust pipe clear of snow to avoid carbon monoxide poisoning.

Snow packed over the tailpipe pushes exhaust into the car, where the gas has no smell and can kill.

Crack your windows slightly to allow a supply of fresh air and keep the exhaust pipe clear of snow to avoid carbon monoxide poisoning.

While stranded in winter, keep yourself and your passengers as active as possible and do not let anyone go to sleep.

Body heat drops fast in a cold car, and a person who falls asleep may not notice they are freezing.

Keep yourself and your passengers as active as possible.

If you are stranded in a winter storm and must wait for help, what should you do?

Stay with your car. Most winter deaths happen when people leave the car, get lost and freeze. Maine Driver’s License Manual, p.116: “Stay with your car.”