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SALT LAKE CITY — What do you do if you get stranded in the snow? With more storms in the forecast and much of the country in a deep freeze, it's something we all should know the answer to.
Before you even head out you want to make sure you have a few essential items in your car — flashlight, batteries, blanket, food and water — and, of course, a first aid kit.
Also, it's not a bad idea to have jumper cables, road flares and an ice scraper. It may seem like common sense but you'd be surprised how many people get stranded on the side of the road unprepared.
Jeff Reynolds, who is with the Utah Department of Transportation incident management team, knows I-15 better than anyone.
"The overpasses cool down more than any part of the road because they have air circulating underneath it," Reynolds said.
His eyes are trained to spot cars on the side of the road, and, some days, it doesn't take long to find one.
Reynolds helps stranded drivers and their broken down vehicles. At no cost to the driver, Reynolds and his team of seven patrol I-15 morning to night, stopping when they see someone in distress.
The UDOT incident management team assists anywhere from 800 to 1,000 drivers each month, but on Wednesday, the snowy, slushy and icy conditions caused more than 100 to call for help.
The biggest reason for accidents in slick conditions is speeding drivers, Reynolds said. He and his team are used to helping drivers that have a dead battery or have run out of gas.
They are even equipped with extra gasoline in case they find someone has driven too far without fueling.
