In the weather much of the country is experiencing, car trouble can mean death if you aren't prepared.

http://www.greenbaypressgazette.com/article/20081222/GPG0101/81222109/1207/GPG01

And my GF wonders why I made a snow shelter yesterday for kicks (post coming soon!)

Seems like leaving the car, in both cases, was the wrong move.

Oh look, my car broke down in a blizzard! I'll just
wander out aimlessly.

God, this makes me angry. For crying out loud, the guy could be my grandfather! He really ought to have known better.

I posted this in the tread about tire chains which mentioned this thread and is worth posting here also.

They made a number of simple but deadly mistakes that cost them their lives. Not having tire chains is not the cause of their death. They died by not being Equipped to Survive.....period.

Did I read correctly? This guy died roughly *one mile* from his home?

This is surprising, especially considering the age of the victims. It doesn't take too long in extremely cold country to learn that you better be prepared.

Then again, I see men my age (35+) all the time going in the store/gas station/etc in shorts and flip flops with a hooded sweatshirt and it's 15 F outside with windchill.

This is one of the problems that I can see occurring during my 18 hr rental car drives, to & from work.

That's why I've put together a Personal Support Kit (mini BoB) for those trips.

One mile from home in whiteout conditions with temps below zero might as well be a hundred.

You would think people living in that part of the country would be a bit better prepared. But I guess it's the same there as everywhere else.

Sue

Not knowing all the facts, its hard to draw conclusions but reading the story did bring some thoughts to mind that are often expressed here.

1. A little preparedness is better than none. For less than $10 you can afford to keep a coffee can, a roll of toilet paper and some alcohol in the car to allow you to outlast the storm. Even a tarp and a pack of matches would be better than nothing.

2. Dress for the trip, not the destination.

3. One mile from home still isn't home. Truth be told, a lot of people might be tempted to walk home since they are so close and in familiar territoy. This is where the STOP acronym comes in.

Looks like folks over-estimating their ability and under-estimating mother nature.

Dressing for the weather en route is always prudent, but how many actually do that small thing. Accidents can happen anytime of year, but there seem to be more in snow/ice/whiteout conditions. Do I always dress that way when I'm out? No, but I always have a duffel bag with cold weather gear in the back of the truck. Boots, wool socks and liners, long underwear -- clothing I very rarely use in SOCAL. I guess it's just a good place to store it. . .