Extreme conditions add significant danger to driving

By Tim Kalinowski on December 28, 2017.

tkalinowski@medicinehatnews.com @MHNTimKal

In general, drivers have been mindful of the extremely cold weather and icy conditions the past few days, says Sgt. Chris Wyrostock of the Medicine Hat Police Service Traffic Safety Unit, and there have been few collisions or serious incidents.

“Most people are taking the weather into account when they are out and about, and out driving,” Wyrostock confirms. “What we are seeing is more vehicles broken down by the side of the road, vehicles not able to get going, vehicles stalling, and different issues like that.”

Wyrostock reminds Hatters of the potentially deadly consequences of taking the frigid temperatures for granted as they go about their day.

“We would just say be prepared for the weather out there in the event you do breakdown,” he says. “Even within the city you want to be dressed properly and have a winter safety kit. I imagine the wait for the tow trucks could be quite a while. Be prepared for the weather, and drive for the weather as well.”

Jordan Hauck, owner of Ken Hauck Towing, seconds that warning.

“The temperature can sneak up on you,” he says. “It might feel warm in the vehicle when it is running, but after 10 or 15 minutes sitting out there with the vehicle off it can get pretty cold pretty fast. When people call you out in that situation, they are very frantic.”

Hauck says there has been a surge in callouts for towing services in the area as temperatures have plummeted into the deep freeze.

“We have had a lot of boosts and big trucks being put in the shop because they are frozen up, and things like that. It’s kind of like trying to unthaw a popsicle in a freezer right now.”

Hauck says one thing people can do to lessen the chance of being stranded on local roadways is to keep their gas tanks topped up. Many of the callouts he has seen the past few days have been related to people running out of fuel after not taking into account the extra gas usage needed to warm up vehicles when temperatures plunge.

“Unfortunately in the towing business, if somebody isn’t having a bad day we don’t make any money,” he says. “Most people, on the other hand, are thankful we are here. We did have to go out on Christmas this year to help people out. Any time, day or night, we have to be prepared to go out there. We have been keeping up with the calls, but we do have everybody on deck. The calls have been coming in pretty rapidly.”

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