Trust Your Cell For Emergencies? That May Be A Bad Idea

Last year, two drivers were killed on a stretch of Interstate 87 in northern New York.  In one case, the elderly driver, Alfred Langer, froze to death.  The vehicle he and his wife were traveling in slid off the road, and he died with his fingers on his cell phone attempting to call for help.  In the other, Stewart Crookes and his wife slid off the snowy interstate.  Stewart got out to get help and had a heart attack.  His wife attempted to call for help to no avail.In many areas of northern New York, Vermont, Maine, and New Hampshire, cell service is impossible, even along the interstates.  Environmental regulations restrict cell towers from going up, and satellites just cannot reach these rural areas.  Traveling in these areas can be extremely dangerous if you rely solely on your cell phone for emergencies.How many times have you heard someone say they carry a cell phone in case of an emergency?  Sadly, cell phones in rural areas may not be enough.  Even carriers with excellent cell tower placement find service breaks up in certain areas near the mountains and in less populated areas.  Interstate 91 in Vermont heading north towards Bradford Saint Johnsbury and the Northeast Kingdom is another area where cell coverage is hard to find.There are ways to travel safely in rural areas:Avoid the interstate:  If you are in an area where there is limited or no cell phone coverage, consider getting off the interstate and driving along a highway where there will be more homes and stores with reliable phone service.  If an emergency occurs, you can at least knock on a door and ask if the home or storeowner will call for help for you.Carry Emergency Supplies:  In the case of Alfred Langer, he might have survived had they had blankets to keep warm.  Always keep flares, extra blankets, dry clothing, a shovel, and non-perishable food in the trunk in case your car goes off the road.Drive during the day:  Avoid driving at night when there is less likely to be traffic.  Others may not be able to help you call for help, but they can drive you to the nearest call box or telephone to get help.Signs are now being erected in New York to warn drivers of the lack of cell phone coverage.  There are also plans to erect cell phone towers along this stretch of interstate.  Meanwhile, knowing your surroundings and watching for dead zones is critical to your survival in many remote areas of the United States.  Carrying a cell phone is a great idea, but you must be proactive in making sure coverage is available.