Driving on Moose Jaw streets is like being a road apple bouncing around in a cardboard box, according to Reece Barrett, owner of Barrett Auto Service.
He knows which streets are the worst. Customers bring their car in for repairs and tell him.
"First Avenue is absolutely brutal. It has big ruts and it's hard to plow because it's very narrow. Residents have nowhere to put the snow and it's not a priority street so the ruts keep getting bigger," Barrett said.
All this snow is a mixed blessing for his business. Some customers are cancelling appointments because they can't get out of their driveway, while others are smashing the bottom of their car in the ruts.
"It's not only body damage, but the undercarriage, too. People are losing their oil pans, damaging the transmission, spindles and struts, bending their rims," Barrett said.
Tow truck drivers are keeping busy, too. During last week's cold snap, truck drivers were busy giving boosts. Now, they are pulling customers out of the ditch.
"(Monday night) we were really busy. The conditions got so bad between Regina and Moose Jaw that trucks weren't going out. They were just picking up passengers and bringing them in," said Lisa Wilson-Sturm, director of communications for CAA.
Visibility was so bad Monday night that it was deemed too dangerous to drive on the highway. It wasn't until Tuesday morning that tow truck drivers could go back on the highway to pull vehicles out of the snow.
"People are slipping and sliding and getting stuck in snow banks. It sounds obvious but people need to slow down," Wilson-Sturm said.
She recommended checking road conditions before going out and avoiding the highways in nasty weather. Slowing down and leaving more space between the vehicle in front of you is a must on icy days, she said.
"Pack an emergency kit with blankets, candles and food," said Wilson-Sturm, "And if you are going on the highway, make sure you have a full tank of gas."
Matthew Barton can be reached at 691-1258.
