Although students learn a lot during their years at MCHS, some important life skills are not taught to students. Although most students take driver’s education, it can be easy to forget what you have been taught in the event of dangerous road conditions, getting pulled over, and other unintended situations. It is important to know what to do if one finds themselves in one of those “what-if” scenarios.
Police Sergeant Michael Lillquist, who has been with the Mason City Police force for almost 22 years, talked about important tips about getting pulled over and driving in the winter. When being pulled over by any type of law enforcement, Lillquist stated that, “I would say if you find yourself being stopped by a police officer, there is usually a reason behind it. You should remain calm and courteous and allow them to explain why you are being pulled over”. Lillquist also stated that, “a law enforcement personal will ask for your driver’s license, vehicle registration, and proof of insurance” and you should, “answer their questions truthfully and with respect”. Lillquist noted that, “typically this is not the time to argue whether if you did the offense or not. The time to argue your innocence would be later in court, where the date of your appearance would be on your ticket.”
Lillquist then talked about the situation of a car accident. Lillquist stated that, “typically, a collision needs to be reported to the police if $1500 of damage or more is done to the vehicles individually, combined, or if someone gets hurt or killed”. If it’s a minor collision under $1500 in damage, Lillquist states that, “you can just figure it out amongst the other person,” which consists of getting the other person’s contact information, insurance card, and pictures of the damage. Lillquist suggests that if you wanted to call the police, they could put together a non-reportable collision so each individual involved could get contact information.
If you ever get stuck in a ditch, especially in the snow, Lillquist recommends to, “get out of the car and clear out the exhaust pipe if it’s filled with snow, and get back in to stay warm”. Lillquist also comments that he, “would not recommend taking a walk outside the vehicle unless you know where you’re going”, and to call 911 for help. If you ever hit a deer or anything to cause significant damage to your vehicle, Lillquist advises to, “Call law enforcement where they can file a damage report for you”.
Iowans know the roads can be treacherous, especially this time of year. With these tips, you can safely navigate any “what-if” scenarios you may find yourself in.