NIPAWIN – The Nipawin Fire Department was dispatched to three vehicle rollovers on Dec. 28, Dec. 31 and Jan. 1 with a total of 29 firefighters attending the scenes.
Paul Cockell, General Manager of Protective Services and Fire Chief said none of the drivers were not seriously injured and there were no passengers in any of the accidents.
One car, one truck and one semi-truck hauling propane were the vehicles in the rollover accidents. Emergency services including EMS and the RCMP attended all scenes with the Nipawin Fire Department.
Cockell reminds motorists of some of the winter driving safety tips:
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Give yourself extra time when driving in the winter, regardless of weather forecasts (snow can turn into freezing rain unexpectantly) and road conditions can deteriorate quickly
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Have a contact who knows when you leave and expected arrival time. If possible, let them know the route you plan on taking.
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Have a full tank of fuel and check tire pressures before leaving for your destination
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Warm up the vehicle and make sure the windshield is completely defrosted before leaving
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Have warm clothing on hand, including extra gloves, toque, winter boots, a blanket. Be prepared to don clothing for the temps outside. A tea candle in the glove box with some matches/lighter, this small source of heat can provide enough warmth for the cab
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Have high energy snacks (granola/candy bars are ideal and shelf stable) and bottled water on hand (these can freeze without any concern)
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Ensure you completely clean off your vehicle of snow, often people will clean their windshields without wiping snow off the hood which ends up right back in the field of view. Snow on the roof can cover the rear windshield or fly off into other drivers’ vehicles.
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An emergency “kit” with a shovel, tow rope/strap, booster cables. Quite often a vehicle can be pushed out with the passengers inside or a little pull from a passing Good Samaritan.
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As below, if you have a vehicle without visible tow hooks you may have a removable one supplied by the manufacturer. These resemble large “eye hooks” and can be found in the glove box or alongside the spare tire. These are screwed into the frame via the front and/or rear bumper minimizing damage when getting towed. Know where to find these!
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STAY OFF YOUR PHONE! A quick glance at a text or email or checking for a song to play via Bluetooth is all it takes to find yourself in trouble. If possible have it secured and/or on a charger in case it’s needed after a collision.
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Do not use your cruise control on roads that are not completely dry
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If you do find yourself off the road and cannot drive back on, STAY WITH YOUR VEHICLE. The elements outside are far worse than sitting in your car. Emergency services will have a much easier time finding you, if the vehicle is running make sure to clear away snow from the exhaust pipe so Carbon Monoxide doesn’t migrate back inside.
