Much like the people operating them, vehicles are none too pleased when temperatures drop (and linger) well into the -30°C range like they did during the province's most recent cold snap.
There are plenty of things that go wrong when the deep freeze hits, and according to CAA Saskatchewan there was quite a demand for their services in the Moose Jaw area during the record breaking cold.
CAA reports no fewer than 80 of what they have dubbed 'light service calls' between February 16th and 19th, that category includes calls for individuals locked out of their vehicles, tire changes and of course, those needing a boost.
The breakdown of their light service calls is as follows:
- four tire changes
- one vehicle lockout
- 75 vehicle boosts
They note that during that same period of time in 2024 there were a total of 13 calls for light service, five of which were for vehicle lockouts, one for tire changes, and seven for customers needing a boost. That amounts to nearly 11 times more vehicle boosts and six times more calls for service in that time frame compared to the year prior.
The extreme cold and heavy snowfall also sent demand for recovery services skyrocketing to five times higher than last year with 35 total calls over the four days, 28 of which were for those needing a tow, and seven for those requiring a winch to free their vehicles.
For reference, only seven tows were requested during the same time period in 2024, CAA Saskatchewan noted that due to the extreme cold, completed service calls nearly doubled when compared to last year.
They remind motorists to perform maintenance at the recommended intervals, and to follow their winter ready checklist:
- Using winter tires for better traction and control.
- Check and charge your vehicles battery (if needed) as extreme weather weakens battery performance.
- Ensuring that your block heater and cord are in proper working condition.
- Using your vehicle's block heater when temperatures fall below -15°C.
They also recommend that motorists:
- check the Highway Hotline before heading out on the roads
- Pack a roadside safety kit with a cell phone and charger, blanket, winter coat, mitts, toque, and boots. Snacks and water, a shovel, window scraper, snow brush, and booster cables are also crucial items to have on hand.
- Stay in your vehicle if stuck or stranded.
- Slow to 60km/h on Saskatchewan highways for first responders: including tow truck operators, law enforcement, paramedics, firefighters.