Common items in your car that can help get you unstuck during a snowstorm

PITTSBURGH — Wednesday’s heavy snow stranded drivers throughout the region as road conditions drastically went from slick to dangerous.

While services like AAA can help you if you get stuck in the snow, there are some ways to get yourself out of trouble using common items already in your vehicle. Snow scrapers, windshield washer fluid and even your floor mats could make the difference between being stuck for hours and getting home safely.

The first thing you want to do if you’re stuck is shovel out the snow from underneath your car, clearing room for your tires to grip the ground. If you don’t have a shovel handy, even a snow scraper will work.

You can melt some of the snow around your tires using windshield washer fluid. That will help clear some of the snow and ice you couldn’t remove with your scraper or shovel.

From there, try rocking your vehicle back and forth slowly, shifting from Drive to Reverse. You don’t want to slam on the gas pedal, which can lead to your tires spinning and getting you stuck even worse.

Another option you have is using your floor mats to get extra traction. Keep in mind, this will likely ruin your mats but it could get you out of a jam. You’re going to want to put them grip side up under your tire so it has something to gain some traction with.

TRAFFIC: Safe driving in winter weather

Cox Media Group