A car may break suddenly, but especially in winter preparedness can be a lot of influence on what condition and how quickly the wayside are continuing their journey. Photo: KSML

Finnish winter is easy to forget, if you need to go out only between the front door and car. But if the trip is interrupted in progress, can be in front of a rugged experience: cold comes quickly, almost certainly it is dark, it is not always clear, from whom assistance is requested, or where is.

Be prepared for winter driving with your safety vest, at least in this way:

1) The batteries fully charged!

Many problems can be avoided in advance, and take care of the car, the main citizen security device, the phone.

– If the vehicle has been serviced, liquid condition, full tank and flows, as well as a car phone that the battery can be avoided in advance quite a few problems, says trainer Toni Mountain Transport Security.

Engine preheating can also be affected by the fact that the journey continues.

2) Clothes according to the weather – really

In winter you can survive kevyissäkin clothes, if staying in the main part of the day in heated indoors or in a warm car. But the great outdoors can suddenly get cold if the outside lives in longer than planned.

According to a rule of thumb should be reserved for those weather protection clothing and footwear, with the current weather usually stays outdoors.

– Down jacket does not need to be on top of the car, but there it is good, says Mountain.

According to the weather preparedness is worth, even if the journey will take the train or bus.

3) Equip view

Under the law, a pedestrian with a reflector must be in the dark. The same applies to drivers from which a pedestrian. Reflective tape is a superior tool for Nagorno says, it shows well, and it shows, even when it does not hit the light.

– Vests a great place to have the door compartment and in the trunk. Whether it gets turned on before the car needs to rise.

Vests is good to have others traveling in the car. For example, the vest per passenger seat.

4) Aids in shape

The car will also be available a sufficient safety equipment unexpected distress. The tow rope, first aid kit, flashlight, snow shovel and brush, at least.

The emergency center is also recommended holding a blanket in the car. It can be warm, if you have to wait for help.

5) Know what you ask for telephone assistance

If the trip is interrupted, it is good to know where help may be requested. The phone is of paramount importance, and therefore should be a journey in working order.

If someone’s life or health is in danger, need to call the emergency services.

The smaller help in distress, for example, a traditional and trusted Automobile and Touring Club road service number 0200 8080 or by Falck roadside assistance number 0300 44700. Other Roadside assistance is, and they will find, for example, the service number.

If the car need to get off the margins, you should ask the towing service service number. Also, your insurance company can help in some cases.

The sensible thing is always to inform also nearby where there are and what has happened.

6) Know where you are

Help is difficult to ask, if you do not know what is.

Smartphone map locating services is fairly easy, but the car can be a good idea to keep the traditional paper road maps. Navigators help, but sometimes they can be misleading.

Along the way, is worth noting landmarks. Before the trip, in turn, is worth a look on the map, what route to drive. It makes it easier to perceive, for example, along the way of municipalities, road numbers, and so on.

If the situation is bad, the ERC may summarily locate the phone. Good help is 112 dispatchers Finnish mobile app, which automatically locates the caller’s emergency call center.

7) Consider whether it is worth the car trip or continue to rise

In some cases, you should consider whether a car makes sense to get up. The middle of rush hour traffic or in the dark along the highway may not be safe to walk on, especially at night or in poor visibility. Nor, for example, the driver’s side tire may not want to start self-repair the road.

– Car rarely stops in the middle lane or damaged in such a way that it would be able to at least some distance to drive to a better place, says Liikenneturva Mountain.

If you turn off the car lights, not worth the journey continues. It is sometimes said that there is no need to stop the trip, unless the instrument panel warning light is not burning red, but the warnings may be differences, Mountain advises.

If the car left the road, keep to consider whether any harm or danger to traffic. rear of the car for export to the triangle warn others of potential danger. The triangle, in turn, must be exported as far away from that car drivers have a chance to react to any possible danger. In urban areas triangle may be a small area a car, but, for example, a motorway distance must be hundreds of meters. And when exporting triangle reflective vest is classy.

the story is based on interviews also Director of the Emergency Response Centre Kyösti Mr Lehtonen’s ERC operations development unit.