VIDEO: We’ve all heard the advice: driving in snow, go slow. But what happens after you’ve already crashed? Walker Fire Chief Russell Shoultz has some critical advice that could save your life. “When people get into a crash, the first thing that happens is a little bit of panic, a little bit of excitement,” Shoultz explained. “The first thing you need to do is calm down. Make sure that you’re okay and calm down.”
But here’s the part that goes against every driver’s instinct: don’t immediately jump out of your car. “Jumping out of the car at any time on a busy street is very dangerous,” the chief said. “It’s amplified untold amounts when there’s ice, water, anything on the roadways.”
Shoultz’s message is simple but potentially life-saving: if you don’t know whether you should get out of your car, stay put. You’re safer inside your vehicle than walking around after a crash. “The other drivers aren’t involved. They’re going to be looking at the crash, not at the roadway,” he said. “Most of the times, other drivers are looking at your car, not at you.”
This advice applies even when you need to exchange insurance information with another driver. If both cars are drivable, move them off the roadway to a parking lot or safe space. But if your car won’t move, especially on a freeway, stay inside.
