What should you do if you get stuck on the side of the road due to a vehicle breakdown during a snowstorm? Here are some useful safety tips to follow when you are waiting for help to arrive.

1. Call your roadside assistance program immediately. It is better to have called for roadside assistance instead of just waiting for someone to come and assist you. If someone does show up to help you before roadside assistance arrives, you can always just cancel the call. Having help on the way just in case there is no one else to help you will allow you to avoid being stranded in the bad weather for a longer period of time.
2. Stay with your vehicle. Experts always advise that you remain with your vehicle, but with the following exceptions. If you know the exact distance it is to get help and you are absolutely sure that you will be able o receive help in that location, though it is still risky you may be able to improve your condition. If you are unsure that you will make it safely and that there is even help available to you, it safer to just remain with your vehicle and make a call on your cell phone to your roadside assistance program.
3. Make sure that your car is visible to others out on the road. In order to be noticed by other drivers and state troopers that are on patrol, hang a brightly colored piece of cloth from your vehicle’s antenna. Also, be sure to light a flare both in front and in back of your vehicle a safe distance away from it.
4. Keep warm. If your exhaust pipe is clear, you can run the heat for 10 minutes, every hour. In addition, use winter gear and extra blankets in order to stay warm in the cold winter weather.
5. Make sure that your car windows are accessible. Be sure to open one window just slightly in order to prevent the windows from being sealed shut by ice or snow.