Winter Towing Safety: Essential Tips for Winnipeg Drivers

Every winter in Winnipeg, drivers are struck by passing vehicles while standing near their broken-down car — often in the first few minutes before a tow truck arrives. Winter conditions — reduced visibility, icy shoulders, darkness at 5 p.m., and blowing snow that can drop visibility to near-zero in minutes — make Winnipeg roadside emergencies far more dangerous than summer ones.

Most drivers don't know the safety protocols because most drivers have never needed them. These tips cover everything from the moment your car fails to the moment the tow truck arrives, so you make it home safely regardless of conditions.

Stranded in a Winnipeg winter right now? Call Jets Towing at (431) 791-1122 — we respond fast.

The First 60 Seconds — Immediate Response Matters

The moment you feel something wrong — a power loss, unusual vibration, a warning light, a blowout — do these things in order:

1. Activate hazard lights immediately. Before you stop, before you panic, before anything else. Do this as soon as you sense trouble.
2. Signal right and steer toward the shoulder. Check mirrors, signal, and move right in a controlled manner.
3. Get as far right as possible. In Winnipeg winters, drivers fighting their own traction issues may not have full control. The more distance between your vehicle and the travel lane, the safer you are.
4. Avoid stopping at curves or hills. If you can keep rolling for another 200 metres to reach a straight, flat section of road, do it. Being visible to approaching traffic is worth the extra distance.

Perimeter Highway: Highest-Risk Winter Breakdown Zone

The Perimeter Highway combines high travel speeds, limited exits, occasional lack of shoulders, and heavy truck traffic — and in winter, all of this occurs in reduced visibility with icy surfaces. If you're breaking down near a Perimeter Highway exit, try to reach the exit ramp before stopping. An exit ramp is far safer than a highway shoulder.

Blizzard Conditions: When Stopping Anywhere Is Dangerous

In a genuine Winnipeg blizzard — visibility under 200 metres, drifting snow across the road, complete whiteout at times — stopping on any shoulder carries serious risk. Following drivers may not see your vehicle until they're on top of it. If conditions are this severe, call 911 to report your location and ask for RCMP traffic management assistance while waiting for the tow truck.

Visibility — Being Seen Is Your Number One Priority

In winter conditions, your hazard lights alone may not be sufficient. Blowing snow, ice on headlights, and overcast darkness all reduce how far your lights are visible. Add every layer of visibility you have:

• Road flares placed at least 30 metres behind the vehicle — flares are more visible than LED triangles in blowing snow
• A high-visibility or bright-coloured vest over your winter coat
• A flashlight — wave it toward approaching traffic, especially in low visibility
• If you have a second person in the vehicle, station them as a lookout with a flashlight
• Turn on interior dome lights — any additional light source visible to approaching drivers helps

Staying Warm While Waiting for Roadside Help

Hypothermia becomes a risk when the body's core temperature drops. In Winnipeg, wind chill can make -15°C feel like -35°C. At those temperatures, exposed skin freezes in minutes and core temperature begins dropping within 30 minutes without proper insulation. This is not an exaggeration — it is why having winter emergency supplies in your vehicle matters.

Carbon Monoxide Risk in Snow-Blocked Exhaust

Running your engine for heat is reasonable if the car is safely off the road — but only if the exhaust pipe is clear of snow. A vehicle parked in a Winnipeg snowbank can have its exhaust pipe buried within minutes of a breakdown. If the pipe is blocked, carbon monoxide builds up inside the cabin. Carbon monoxide is odourless and colourless — you won't smell it. Before you run the engine, physically get out and check the exhaust pipe, then check again every 15–20 minutes in heavy snowfall.

Emergency Warmth Supplies Every Winnipeg Driver Needs

• Emergency mylar blanket or a fleece sleeping bag — this is non-negotiable
• Chemical hand warmers (last 8–10 hours, activate by shaking)
• Extra hat, gloves, and socks in the glovebox
• A phone charger or power bank — cold kills phone batteries rapidly, keep your phone inside your coat
• Water (avoid alcohol — it creates a false sense of warmth while actually accelerating heat loss)
• A small snack bar for blood sugar maintenance in extended waits

What to Expect When the Jets Towing Truck Arrives

When you see the tow truck approaching — its amber lights usually visible from several hundred metres on a clear night — here is what happens next:

• The driver pulls in front of or behind your vehicle (depending on the tow type) and sets up their own warning lights before approaching you.
• Do not walk toward the truck while it's maneuvering. Stay in your safe position until the driver comes to you.
• The driver will assess the scene, confirm the vehicle details, and explain the plan before attaching anything.
• During loading, stand well clear of both your vehicle and the tow truck — in the direction of the guard rail, not the traffic lane. Loading a vehicle on an icy shoulder involves movement and tension that can be unpredictable.
• In extreme cold (-30°C and below), Jets Towing drivers will invite you into the cab during loading if the process will take more than a few minutes.
• Keep your hazard lights running until the driver explicitly asks you to turn them off — not before.

Jets Towing uses GPS dispatch to route the nearest equipped truck to your location — not the nearest truck generally, but the truck best suited for your vehicle and situation. This matters in Winnipeg winters when different areas of the city have different road conditions simultaneously.

Pair these winter safety tips with our guide on highway breakdown safety and our full winter car prep checklist to be fully prepared for Winnipeg's most demanding driving season. Our emergency towing service and FAQ page have more on what to expect when you call.

Frequently Asked Questions