Helping drivers stuck in snow: why I stopped and why others might too

A Jan. 15 storm left parts of Toronto with more than 30 cm of snow and the OPP reported about 260 crashes and 150 calls for stuck vehicles; the columnist says he no longer helps drivers he sees without winter tires.

When he was a teenager in Ottawa the writer recalls a neighbour named Dan who helped push a stuck car free. On Jan. 15, a heavy snowstorm struck parts of Toronto and created difficult driving conditions. The Ontario Provincial Police reported a large number of crashes and calls for vehicles stuck in snowbanks and ditches. Faced with many motorists driving without winter tires, the columnist says he now generally avoids helping those who put themselves and others at risk. Noted details: - A childhood memory describes a neighbour, Dan Dever, lifting a stuck 1979 AMC Pacer to free it. - The Jan. 15 storm brought more than 30 centimetres of snow in parts of Toronto, according to the article. - Ontario Provincial Police Sgt. Kerry Schmidt is reported as saying the OPP responded to about 260 crashes and 150 calls involving vehicles stuck and needing towing. - The columnist observed many drivers using all-season tires in deep snow, a group he calls the "All-Season Gang," and noted visible difficulty and panic among some motorists. - The writer and an editor both discuss the moral choice of helping stranded drivers versus concerns about safety and encouraging risky behaviour. Summary: The storm increased crashes and calls for stuck vehicles, and those incidents prompted reflection about when to offer help. The columnist explains choosing not to assist drivers who go out without winter tires because of safety concerns and the risk of encouraging unsafe choices. Undetermined at this time.