Snow Season Car Kindness: Being a Good Neighbor on the Street

In much of New England, winter turns parking into a neighborhood relationship. Snow emergencies shrink the number of usable spaces, plows bury cars in heavy ridges, batteries die on frigid mornings and everyone is trying to get to work on time. Small courtesies on the street can keep tempers cool and help neighbors get where they need to go.

Here is a guide to being a good neighbor with cars in snow season.

Know the rules before the storm

Many cities and towns declare snow emergencies or parking bans so plows can clear streets curb to curb. Cars left on restricted streets may be ticketed or towed. Rules vary widely, so:

• Sign up for local alerts by text, email or app if your community offers them.
• Learn which streets are restricted, often marked by signs indicating snow emergency routes.
• Find out where you can park during a ban. Some communities open municipal lots or school lots temporarily; others offer discounted garage parking. Check official announcements each time, since arrangements can change.
• Share the information with neighbors who are new, older or may miss alerts.

A quick text to a neighbor, such as “Heads up, parking ban starts at 6 p.m. tonight,” can save someone a towing bill.

Clear your whole car

Clearing a peephole in the windshield is not enough. Snow and ice flying off a moving car can blind other drivers and damage vehicles behind you. Before driving:

1. Clear the roof, hood and trunk, not just the windows.
2. Clear all windows and mirrors completely.
3. Clear headlights and taillights so others can see you.
4. Clear the tailpipe before starting the engine. A blocked exhaust can push carbon monoxide into the car.
5. Do not sit in a running car buried in snow with the exhaust blocked.

Some states have laws about driving with snow and ice on a vehicle. Even where rules differ, a fully cleared car is simply safer for everyone.

Shovel smart around cars

When digging out, think about the people around you:

• Do not throw snow into the street or onto a cleared sidewalk, hydrant or a neighbor’s freshly shoveled space. Many communities prohibit pushing snow into the road.
• Clear the sidewalk in front of your car too, especially curb ramps.
• Help a neighbor dig out if you have a moment and a shovel.
• Use sand or kitty litter under tires for traction if a car is stuck.

Space-saving customs

In some neighborhoods, people place chairs, cones or other objects in spaces they have shoveled to “save” them. Rules and customs about this vary a great deal between cities and even between streets. Some cities allow it for a limited time after a snow emergency; others prohibit it. Before using or moving a space saver, learn your local rules and neighborhood norms.

Whatever the custom, a few principles help:

• Follow your city or town’s official rules.
• Remove space savers when the allowed period ends.
• Never damage someone’s car or property over a parking space.
• When in doubt, talk to your neighbor kindly. A conversation goes further than a note on a windshield.

Help with jump-starts and stuck cars

Cold weather is hard on car batteries, and a quick jump-start can rescue a neighbor’s morning. If you are comfortable helping:

• Keep jumper cables or a portable jump starter in your car during winter.
• Follow the vehicle owners’ manuals for the correct jump-start procedure.
• Make sure both cars are off before connecting cables, and connect in the correct order.
• If you are unsure, it is fine to say so and suggest roadside assistance instead.

For a stuck car, a few neighbors pushing gently, with the driver steering and easing the gas, can often do the trick. Stand to the side rather than directly behind spinning tires, and never push on a slope where the car could roll toward someone.

Look out for those who need help

Some neighbors have a harder time with winter cars:

• Older adults and people with disabilities may not be able to dig out after plows pass.
• Health care workers and others with early shifts may need to leave before anyone else is awake.
• New residents may not know about parking bans.
• Neighbors with accessible parking spaces need those spaces cleared and protected.

Offering to clear a car, move it before a ban or give a ride during a storm can make a big difference.

Stock a winter car kit

A basic kit can help you and anyone you stop to assist:

• Snow brush and ice scraper
• Small shovel
• Sand, kitty litter or traction mats
• Jumper cables or a portable jump starter
• Flashlight with extra batteries
• Warm blanket, hat and gloves
• Phone charger
• Water and a few snacks

Drive with neighbors in mind

Snowy streets are narrower, sidewalks may be blocked and pedestrians often have to walk in the road. Slow down on residential streets, watch for kids playing in snowbanks, give plows plenty of room and be patient with drivers trying to back out of tight spaces. Leaving a few extra minutes in your schedule makes it easier to be courteous.

After the storm

When the snow settles, check in with neighbors. Is anyone still buried? Did someone get towed and need a ride to the lot? A neighborhood that helps each other with cars in winter is a neighborhood that works together all year.