Question: I read your recent article about winter travel safety. I also heard you were a Boy Scout, which would apply to this also. Can you talk more in depth about what a person should have in their vehicle?

Answer: Great topic to expand on. Yes, I serve as the scoutmaster for my sons’ Boy Scout troop. The Boy Scouts’ motto is “Be Prepared.” During the winter months, being prepared becomes even more important. Things happen: Crashes, stalled vehicles, being on the wrong side of a jackknifed semi or a whiteout blizzard that lasts for many hours. A phone can call for help, but from over 25 years as a Minnesota State Patrol trooper I can tell you if there are a lot of crashes and roads are bad, help might not reach you quickly. Be prepared and have a plan; doing both could save your life.