Traveling By Car: A Life and Death Decision.

by Anna Glendenning | More from this Blogger

22 Dec 2006 02:38 PM

James Kim was a senior editor at CNET, a San Francisco Bay-area online news and information outlet. On December 6, 2006 his body was found, in the Oregon wilderness. Kim had left his wife Kati and two daughters in their stuck car on Dec. 2 to search for help. Katie and the girls were found and rescued on Monday, Dec. 4.

The Kim family left San Francisco on Nov. 17 to visit friends and relatives in the Pacific Northwest over the Thanksgiving holiday. After missing their turn to Gold Beach they decided to take what appeared to be another route through the wilderness. It turned out to be a big mistake and they became lost and stuck in snow late in the night on Saturday, Nov. 25. The family spent several days together in the car, and burned their tires to stay warm before James left his family and traveled by foot anywhere from 10-15 miles (depending on reports) looking for help. James Kim died of hypothermia possibly two days before he was found by searchers.

Last week a woman left the Portland Oregon area to return to her home about 200 miles away. No one heard from her for several days, missing person reports were broadcast. Her car was found upside down in a creek. She apparently lost control in the ice and snow and died when her car went off the road.

At least two families have spent several nights stuck off the road in snow and ice covered isolated areas during the past several week. Both families looking for Christmas Trees in the wilderness. Each family requiring extraordinary rescue efforts for avoidable situations.

Traveling on unfamiliar roads, or in conditions that are very risky seems to be something that happens too often. It's hard to hear all of this news and not feel sorrow for the families and their losses. It's even harder to hear all of this news and not wonder if there were ways to avoid or change the outcome of these stories. In every case, it was the little things that made situations life threatening.

There are several things travelers must understand before they take control of the wheel. The very first Auto insurance policy was issued by Travelers Insurance Company in 1897. We may be spoiled today with well constructed roads, Internet maps, and cars designed to drive in 4-wheel gear, but the fact is traveling by auto on roads is still a risk we take.

The most important thing that anyone traveling by car needs to do, is make sure the car is safe and ready to make the trip you plan. For a check list of pre-travel car care needs be sure to check the next Blog.

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Related Blogs:

• Traveling By Car: A Life and Death Decision
• Five Tips For Driving on Icy, Slippery or Snow Covered Roads
• Start The Engine! Auto Travel and The Winter Car Trip.

Glossary of Insurance Terms:

A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | J-K | L | M | N | O | P | Q-R | S | T | U-V | W-Z

Families.com Blogs are for informational purposes only. Families.com assumes no responsibility for consumer choices. Consumers are reminded that it is their responsibility to research their choices properly and speak to a certified insurance professional prior to making any decision as important as an insurance purchase.

car travel, vacation planning, winter driving